Serious Concerns about Dermatologist
 

I recently had a spot removed from my face by Alliant. It required lots of stiches to repair. I am not a doctor but have strong reasons to believe the spot was nothing but a scab from a recent incident of weed eating. Alliant uses a lab? in Tarpon Springs (Clear Diagnostics) for pathology. This place (google it) looks like a dump. It is owned by an guy who is not a professional and does not have a resume supporting such capability and this place has only been in business 2 years. Why Tarpon Springs? Why not use Tampa Bay, Orlando, etc. This wreaks of the potential of false pathology reports and unnecessary surgery. I am very concerned.

I just checked the Clear Diagnostics Website and they have a "FAKE" setup. Now I am REALLY concerned.

Do you mean they use the words Fictitious Name?

If so, I had run across this term being used before just in this state.

what does fictitious business name - Bing

Clear Diagnostics in Tarpon Springs, FL | Company Info & Reviews

We all three go to Dr. Casper and have confidence in him.

No, they use a fake picture for their staff. They give no credentials. The website has no real info.

I am not questioning (yet) Dr. Casper but their use of a very questionable lab for pathology results.

A Dermatologist is only as good as the pathology report.

All laboratories that test humans must meet certain standards established by the Feds. See the link below:

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

There is a phone # in the upper right hand corner of the website for the lab you mentioned. Call and ask if they are CLIA certified. If you have any concerns call the FL Dept of Health.


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I agree with your concern, it just doesn't sound right. Why would any doctor use a second rate lab?, there's no shortage of reputable labs. Dermatopathology is hard enough without having an amateur on the business end of the microscope.

On another note, if you thought it was just a scab from an injury, why run to the dermatologist unless it was there for 3 or 4 months, 6 weeks minimum?

I don't think it looks fake, there are lots of small business sites like this.

It looks like a typical cookie cutter web site build out of stock photos and set up by a web firm for a small business that doesn't want to a real ecommerce web site. The business just wants to say that they have one and use it as an advertisement that can be searched for on the web.

The site is registered with GoDaddy which has an inexpensive service that will put a basic site together for you and maintain it too. It might not be but it looks like one of the simple sites GoDaddy will cobble together for a business. Typically these sites have little real info, as you noted, and often have a lot of holes in them like this one does.

I went for my yearly check up and not because of the scab. Skin cancer does not run in my family and I never had any issues before. But THEY took the scab and sent it off to Clear Diagnostics.

Thanks dbussone for your comments. I was hoping someone would know the next step. I will follow up on your post's information.

His curriculum vitae is very good. But more than that he is kind and very good with people. And smart.

Alliant Dermatology - Dr. David Casper, MD

Almost all of us get some form of non life threatening skin cancer as we age. It doesn't have to "run in families". Only Melanoma scares me. The others are usually easily treatable with a surgery such as the one you experienced.

I don't think the lab building looks bad. It just looks like a building that would house a lab.

I did a quick lookup for Clear Diagnostics on the CDC CLIA site and found this:

10D2096689 Independent
Certificate Of Compliance
Apls Services Llc D/b/a Clear Diagnostics
708 E Tarpon Ave
Tarpon Springs, FL, 34689
Tel: (727) 940-5210

:confused: Concerned enough to talk to the Doctor or his Office Manager? Concerned enough to find another Doctor?

Or just concerned enough to shot from the hip about "the potential of false pathology reports and unnecessary surgery"?

:ohdear:Do you think this guy in Tarpon Springs is sitting in his kitchen with a butter knife and magnifying glass?:loco:

I think the OP should listen to you. Like most of us who hear the word cancer, it scares us. BUT... The lab is properly licensed with the right accredidation and so is the doctor.Both me and my husband have had skin cancer removal and our daughter has had a couple of suspicious things removed. We had a good dermatologist in Ohio too. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There are some dermatologists who do unnecessary surgeries and you may have heard about them, but Dr. Casper isn't one of them, in my opinion.

Good work.


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Magic question-----did they ask you how long that scab was there before exposing you to a $200 "skin lesion removal" and a $150 pathology bill??????

I go to Dr. Casper and he will not cut unless necessary. I've been going to him for 7 years and find him to be very professional.

Was at Dr. Casper's office three weeks ago for Mohs Surgery and stitiching the wound by the plastic surgeon, Dr. Ahumada. I saw signs in the exam room about Alliant now having their own "in house" pathologist. I don't recall there being a name or phone number but there may have been.

Hey "you know who you are", everyone that ever reads this forum knows you know everything. And you have an opinion on everything. Why don't you just read sometimes without comment. No awards here for most posts.

Now I am posting about a real issue here. I do not care how Dr. Casper looks, acts, etc. They cut and send sample to pathologist. I am telling you straight out they sent a scab caused by a piece of bark hitting me in the face. NOT A FREAKING MOLE OR SPOT. The freaking pathologist said it was CANCER. Now you can continue to do what ever you like. Yes, I am going to another dermatologist that uses a modern lab in a BIG CITY that has been around for at least ten years or more.

That is a very prudent plan. I'm very leery of this whole episode.

Now the only thing to say is this;


///

I don't understand that conclusion. It seems to assume that the scab was not cancer, which we can't tell. Is there something else driving it?

Any MOHS surgeon I went to before we moved to FLorida set aside one day per week for MOHS and had someone who did the pathology then and there. I can't imagine having to come back a week or two later and the doctor has to cut again. Off the subject but I was surprised to hear (read) this.

:BigApplause:..:BigApplause:..:BigApplause:





I had a small area on my lower leg removed a couple of years ago that I should have went for a second opinion on, especially after the young guy with absolutely no bedside manner...did the worst cutting/stitching job I've ever seen. :swear:

On top of that, it became infected and when I went to a regularly scheduled appointment with my cardiologist...he set me up immediately (on his cell while I was in the room) with the dermatologist that he and his family uses. :thumbup:

While the new dermatologist wouldn't come right out and say that he agreed (out of professional courtesy I presume), he didn't contradict me either when I stated that the previous dude seemed more like a butcher...than a surgeon.

Good luck to you. :)

You are quite correct. True MOHS cannot be done without onsite realtime pathology review. The training programs that teach MOHS typically include this aspect of the procedure. I had a MOHS done by the chairman of the Dermatology Dept at Vanderbilt University. He reviewed my pathological slides 4 times before determining the edges were clean.

But I think the OP may have been discussing his initial biopsy that was used to determine the need for a MOHS.


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Dr. Casper MUST submit ALL tissue removed for pathology and cytology determination. If you are going to a lab to recreate, then aesthetics are valid. If the MD uses the lab so that insurances cover the cost of testing, I appreciate that. I have had biopsies on my face and have had radiation treatment as a result. I am grateful that the squamous cell carcinoma did not have the time to progress. This was 100% due to Dr. Casper finding a lesion I never saw on the tip of my nose. He biopsied it and treated me. I had no history. I trust Dr. C.
I am a retired nurse with 43 years in the field. I am highly suspect until I prove things otherwise. I suppose we can look under every single rock until something moves but, hey. Time wasted in my book.
Scabs can be warning signs. Consider the alternative if nothing was done.
Dr. Casper is cautious here in sunburn central. He is well known in the medical community as a respected clinician. Keep checking your skin.