Dermatologist Certificate Skin Cancer Pathology and Oncology

Question 1

What is the most common type of skin cancer in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

Answer

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common human malignancy, accounting for approximately 80% of all non-melanoma skin cancers and affecting millions of Americans annually.

Question 2

Which histological subtype of basal cell carcinoma carries the highest risk of recurrence and invasion?

Accepted Answer

Morpheaform (sclerosing/infiltrative) BCC

Answer

Morpheaform BCC has indistinct clinical borders with finger-like projections extending well beyond the visible lesion, making it the most aggressive subtype with the highest recurrence rate.

Question 3

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in a chronic wound or scar is known as which eponymous carcinoma?

Accepted Answer

Marjolin ulcer

Answer

Marjolin ulcer is SCC arising from chronic wounds, burn scars, osteomyelitis sinuses, or other areas of chronic inflammation, typically with an aggressive course and higher metastatic risk.

Question 4

What feature of melanoma on dermoscopy is most specific for malignancy?

Accepted Answer

Blue-white veil overlying raised areas

Answer

The blue-white veil — an irregular, structureless, ground-glass blue area with overlying white haze — is a dermoscopic feature highly specific for invasive melanoma.

Question 5

PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors (nivolumab, pembrolizumab) are approved for which stage of melanoma?

Accepted Answer

Advanced/metastatic melanoma and high-risk resected stage III/IV adjuvant therapy

Answer

Anti-PD-1 immunotherapy is approved for unresectable or metastatic melanoma and as adjuvant therapy for high-risk resected stage III and stage IV melanoma to reduce recurrence.

Dermatologist Certificate Practice Test

Dermatologist Certificate Practice Test

Dermatologist Certificate Skin Cancer Pathology and Oncology