22.3 Skin cancer Flashcards
Describe the anatomy of the skin.
- Basal cells produce new cells
- Squamous cells start as keratinocytes
What are the main types of skin cancer?
What is BCC?
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Most common skin cancer
- Painless
- Rolled edge
- Central ulceration
- Slow growing
- Telangiectasia (spider veins)
- Locally destructive, does not metastasise (except for basosquamous BCC)
What are the 5 types of BCC?
What skin cancer is this?
Morphoeic BCC
What is the peak age for BCC?
70, but does still occur in younger people.
What are the risk factors for developing BCC?
Nevoid BC syndrome = Gorlin Goltz
What are the tx options for BCC?
Surgical excision most common, uses microscope to confirm complete removal
Describe SCC.
- Second most common skin cancer
- Can occur anywhere on the body, including the lips (quick spread to LN)
How can you distinguish SCC from BCC?
- SCC can spread to lymph nodes
- SCC grows more quickly
- SCC tends to be painful
What are the causes of SCC?
- UV radiation
- Increasing age
- Male
- Lighter skin
- Tobacco
- Alcohol
- HPV infection
What are the differences between UVA and UVB?
- UVA tends to cause aging changes (longer wavelength)
- UVB tends to cause burning (short wavelength)
Lead to DNA damage and mutation.
What are the Fitzpatrick skin types?
Numbered 1-6
Everyone has the same number of melanocytes but the amount of melanin produed by these cells differs between people.
How is melanin produced?
- Melanin is produced through tyrosine kinase polymerisation
- Melanin is positioned over the nucleus (acts as a sun hat for nucleus)
- 1 melanocyte : 5 keratinocytes
How are keratinocyte cancers treated (non-melanoma)?
BCC and SCC
Range of surgical options depending on cancer.
Left hand side = good for early, thin cancers or precancers
Right hand side = later, thick, invasive cancers
What are the stages of melanoma?
How should you screen moles for melanoma?
