Cutaneous Oncology Center & Melanoma Program

The Cutaneous Oncology Center is an interdisciplinary center staffed by faculty from dermatology, medical oncology, and surgical oncology. Under the direction of the Department of Dermatology and the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, our multidisciplinary team works as an integrated group to create individualized treatment plans and coordinate clinical trials with new therapies. This comprehensive center offers patient education, screening, diagnoses, follow-up, and all available treatment options for all types of skin cancers. The specialty’s best physicians have come together to pursue new discoveries and deliver world-class care.

Cutaneous malignancies are the most common malignancies in the United States and represent a major health problem. Our program aims to link the clinical activities in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers with prevention, improved diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases.

This program is housed at the only site in Connecticut where patients with atypical moles can obtain total body digital imaging to capture digital images of these lesions. This program also provides epiluminescent microscopy to enhance in vivo evaluation of pigmented lesions. Due to the expertise in dermatopathology, any lesions biopsied are evaluated in our highly respected dermatopathology laboratory in the UConn Dermatology Department.

Patients with high-risk melanomas are seen collaboratively by a multidisciplinary team. Following this appointment, a conference is held with the dermatologist, oncologist, and surgical oncologist to discuss the best course of action for your individual case.