Glossary: A

A
Acral: Of, relating to, or affecting peripheral parts, such as limbs, fingers, or ears.
Actinically: Of or relating to the chemically active rays of the electromagnetic spectrum, produced by exposure to actinic radiation, such as that from the sun, ultraviolet waves, or x- or gamma radiation.
Adjuvant: An additive that enhances the effectiveness of medical treatment, augmenting its action.
AJCC: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) is an organization best known for defining and popularizing cancer staging standards.
Allogeneic: Denoting individuals of the same species but of different genetic constitution (antigenically distinct).
Amelanotic: melanomas that do not have pigment and may not even be visible (colorless or flesh-colored).
Atypia: Deviation from the normal or typical state. Atypia is a clinical term for abnormality in a cell. The term is medical jargon for an atypical cell. It may or may not be a precancerous indication associated with later malignancy, but the level of appropriate concern is highly dependent on the context with which it is diagnosed.
Autosomal: Describes a chromosome other than the X and Y sex-determining chromosomes.

Glossary: B

B
Basal cell : A type of cell found in the deepest layer of the epithelium.
Basosquamous: A type of carcinoma that histologically exhibits both basal and squamous elements.
BCC: Basal Cell Carcinoma
Biochemotherapy: The use of immunotherapy in conjunction with chemotherapy, has shown promising antitumor activity in patients with metastatic melanoma.
Blonde: A person with fair hair and skin and usually light eyes.
Breslow: The Breslow system uses the absolute measurement of depth in the local staging of melanoma.
Buccal: Of or relating to the cheeks or the mouth cavity.

Glossary: C

C
Canthus: The angle formed by the meeting of the upper and lower eyelids at either side of the eye.
Carcinoma: An invasive malignant tumor derived from epithelial tissue that tends to metastasize to other areas of the body.
Cautery: Use of a device or chemical agent to coagulate or destroy tissue.
CDKN2A: Genetically transmitted familial syndromes with alterations in the CDKN2A gene, which encodes for the tumor-suppressing proteins p16 and p19.
Chemosurgery: Selective destruction of tissue by use of chemicals, as for removing malignant skin lesions.
Cisplatin: A chemotherapy medicine used to treat certain types of cancer by destroying cancerous cells.
Clinical: Involving or based on direct observation of the patient.
Costimulatory: The natural ligand for the T-cell antigen CD28; mediating T- and B-cell adhesion. CD80 is expressed on activated B-cells and gamma-interferon-stimulated monocytes. The binding of CD80 to CD28 and CTLA-4 provides a co-stimulatory signal to T-cells and leads to greatly upregulated lymphokine production.
Cryotherapy: The technique that uses an extremely cold liquid or instrument to freeze and destroy abnormal skin cells that require removal.
Cytokines: Any of several regulatory proteins, such as the interleukins and lymphokines, that are released by cells of the immune system and act as intercellular mediators in the generation of an immune response.

Glossary: D

D
Dacarbazine: Dacarbazine, also known as DTIC, is an anticancer agent best known for its long-time use in treating metastatic malignant melanoma.
De novo: A Latin expression meaning 'afresh', 'anew', 'beginning again'.
Debulking: The excision of a major part of a malignant tumor that cannot be completely removed surgically, performed to enhance the effectiveness of radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Dehydrogenase: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme, used to follow-up cancer (e.g. melanoma) patients, as cancer cells have a high rate of turnover with destroyed cells leading to an elevated LDH activity.
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: A slow-growing dermal neoplasm consisting of one or more purplish nodules that tends to recur but usually does not metastasize.
Dermatosis: Any skin disorder, especially one not characterized by inflammation.
Dermoepidermal: Pertaining to the dermis and the epidermis.
Discoid lupus erythematosus: A chronic skin disease occurring primarily in women between the ages of 20 and 40; characterized by an eruption of red lesions over the cheeks and bridge of the nose.
Dorsum: the aspect of an anatomical structure or part corresponding in position to the back; posterior in the human.
DTIC: The chemotherapeutic agent DTIC, or dacarbazine, seems to be the most active agent. Overall responses are noted in about 20% of patients, and they last only two to six months.
Dysplastic: Abnormal development or growth of cells, in which cell maturation and differentiation are delayed.

Glossary: E

E
Ectopic: Occurring outside of the expected or usual location; displaced.
Eczema: An inflammatory skin disease characterized by vesiculation, inflammation, watery discharge, and the development of scales and crusts. The large variety of types can be distinguished according to location and causal agent.
Elastosis: Degenerative changes in the dermal connective tissue with increased amounts of elastotic material.
Electrodesiccation: A method of electrosurgery that desiccates tissue by dehydration. A highly or moderately damped alternating electrical current is radiated through a monoterminal active electrode that is applied directly to or inserted into the tissue being treated.
Epidemiology: The branch of medicine that deals with the study of the causes, distribution, and control of disease in populations.
Epithelium: Membranous tissue composed of one or more layers of cells separated by very little intercellular substance and forming the covering of most internal and external surfaces of the body and its organs.
Erythematous: Redness of the skin caused by dilatation and congestion of the capillaries, often a sign of inflammation or infection.
Erythroplasia of Queyrat: A form of intraepithelial carcinoma of the glans penis.
Expansile: Capable of expansion.