Am Fam Physician. 2025;112(3):239
Author disclosure: No relevant financial relationships.
Each year, the American Family Physician (AFP) editing team selects the AFP Article of the Year to honor authors for their excellent scholarly contributions to family medicine. The winning article is selected based on the most online views and highest ratings from the AFP editors.
The 2024 AFP Article of the Year award goes to Drs. Joy Shen-Wagner, Joel Amidon, and Stephen Carek for “Diagnosing Common Benign Skin Tumors,” which was published in the October 2024 issue.
Dr. Joy Shen-Wagner is an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Prisma Health and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville. She graduated from Eastern Virginia Medical School, completed her family medicine residency with Sutter Health in Sacramento, California, and received point-of-care ultrasonography training with the University of South Carolina Ultrasound Institute.
Dr. Joel Amidon is an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Prisma Health and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville. He serves as an associate program director for the residency program and is an ABPS FMO diplomate.
Dr. Stephen Carek is an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Prisma Health and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville. He graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina, completed his family medicine residency with Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina, and completed a primary care sports medicine fellowship at the University of Florida.
Approximately 36% of patients present to their primary care physician with at least one skin problem.1 This article helps readers evaluate skin lesions and distinguish benign tumors from those that are potentially malignant. Common lesions discussed include acrochordons, sebaceous hyperplasia, keratoacanthomas, pyogenic granulomas, dermatofibromas, seborrheic keratoses, cherry angiomas, pilar cysts, epidermoid cysts, and dermoid cysts. Most benign lesions can be identified based on clinical features, but biopsy is needed when diagnosis is uncertain or the lesion changes rapidly. The article includes several p hotographs with diverse presentations to assist with diagnosis. Treatment varies based on lesion type, skin characteristics, and cosmetic concerns, with options including excision, cryotherapy, laser therapy, and electrodesiccation.
The award will be presented next month at the Congress of Delegates Award Luncheon at the AAFP FMX 2025 Conference in Anaheim, California.
Editor’s Note: Dr. Sexton is the editor-in-chief of AFP.
