ABPS Dermatology (BCD) case studies
ABPS Dermatology (BCD) · Put your knowledge to work in context.
This page is an independent study guide, not an official ABPS publication. The Board of Certification in Dermatology (BCD) offers a dermatology board certification exam through the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS). The ABPS Dermatology (BCD) case studies are 5 cases and about 3,523 words.
1Methotrexate Failure, Latent TB, and a Patient Who Wants 'a Pill'
A 62-year-old man with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis (PASI 18, BSA 22%) has taken methotrexate 15 mg weekly for 3 years. Comorbidities: type 2 diabetes (HbA1c 8.1%), BMI 34, hypertension, and eGFR 38 mL/min/1.73 m².
740 words, about 4 min2A Fast-Growing Forearm Nodule: 'Favor AFX' on a Shave Biopsy
A 74-year-old man has a 1.6 cm rapidly growing, ulcerated nodule on the dorsal forearm that appeared over five months on severely sun-damaged skin. A deep shave biopsy shows a dermal nodular proliferation of large epithelioid and spindle cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, marked nuclear pleomorphism, and numerous atypical mitoses.
689 words, about 3 min3Scalp SCC on Irradiated Skin in a Patient on Apixaban
A 70-year-old woman on apixaban 5 mg twice daily for atrial fibrillation (CHA₂DS₂-VASc 5) and aspirin 81 mg for a prior TIA presents with a 2.1 cm biopsy-proven poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the left parietal scalp. She had whole-brain radiotherapy for a metastatic lesion four years ago; the scalp in that field is thin, dry, and telangiectatic, and there is exposed periosteum at the base of the tumour.
708 words, about 4 min4Periocular Infantile Hemangioma With Induced Astigmatism
A 5-month-old girl has a 1.5 cm deep infantile hemangioma involving the left upper eyelid, first noted at 3 weeks and growing steadily. The lesion extends onto the left cheek and glabella in a segmental distribution.
678 words, about 3 min5Blanching of the Nasal Ala Minutes After Filler Injection
A 38-year-old woman has 0.4 mL of cross-linked hyaluronic acid injected with a 30-gauge needle into the left nasal ala for a "liquid rhinoplasty." Within seconds she reports sharp pain, and the injector sees a 1 cm area of blanching with a reticulated violaceous border extending onto the left nasal sidewall; capillary refill is 4 seconds. The clinic has hyaluronidase 1500 IU/mL vials, nitroglycerin paste, warm compresses, and aspirin on hand.
708 words, about 4 min