benign skin tumours

Question 1

where can skin tumours originate

Answer 1

epidermis - bcc, seborrhoeic keratosis, viral warts

melanocytes - naevi

hair follicle - trichilemmal (pilar) and epidermoid cysts

blood vessels - angioma, spider naevus (telangiectasia)

fibroblast - dermatofibroma, keloid

nerves - neuroma

fat - lipoma

sebaceous glands - sebaceous hyperplasia/adenoma

Question 2

what features in hx can help distinguish benign vs malignant tumours

Answer 2

1. age
2. symptoms - determine if benign lesion should be removed
3. longstanding vs rapid growth - high suspicion
4. single/ multiple (more likely to be benign)
5. location (determined by origin of tumour)