Deadly Dermatologic Diseases

Almost exactly ten years ago, two young physicians joined me at the University of Oklahoma for the study of dermatopathology: Stephen C. Somach, a brilliant dermatologist-scholar from Cleveland, who was also a highly accomplished cellist, and Michael B. Morgan, an effervescent, newly minted pathologist from Florida, who was brimming with energy, curiosity, and zeal and was also spo- ing water skiis and a red Porsche! Bruce R. Smoller, whose impressive erudition is universally acknowledged, I met during a Residency Review committee visit to Stanford some ?fteen years ago. Each of these men has made original cont- butions to the dermatopathology literature as well as to patient care in the cli- cal setting. Their publications have broadened our understanding of the biologic behavior of pigmented lesions, cutaneous lymphomas, vascular lesions, and soft tissue tumors. It is indeed a pleasure to welcome their volume, Deadly Der- tologic Diseases, a unique and stimulating outcome of their enthusiastic collaboration. Deadly Dermatologic Diseases discusses a wide variety of entities–neoplastic, vascular, infectious, metabolic–each of which may eventuate in death of the patient. In addition, numerous tumors and dermatoses frequently associated with internal malignancies are reviewed. High-quality histologic photomic- graphs and clinical pictures accompany many of the discussions. A unique initial summary page facilitates the reading of each presentation. Recent relevant genetic and biochemical ? ndings in every chapter were particularly helpful to this reader.