Cancerous skin lesions

Question 1

what are the two types of skin cancer precursorous lesions?

Answer 1

actinic keratosis

bowens disease

Question 2

what is actinic keratosis?

Answer 2

hyperkeratotic areas on sun exposed skin

can progress to SCC but is uncommon

Question 3

what is bowens disease?

Answer 3

intra epidermal SCC

commonly seen on lower legs of elderly ladies

Question 4

what is the treatment of AK and BD?

Answer 4

photodynamic therapy, imiquimod, efudix

Question 5

what is basal cell cancer?

Answer 5

found mainly on sun exposed sites
slow growing
can be nodular/superficial/multicentric
can have pearly edge/be raised/have telangiectasia
locally invasive and do not metastasise

Question 6

how are basal cell cancers treated?

Answer 6

surgically by excision

or by cryotherapy, PDT, imiquimod

Question 7

what is a squamous cell carcinoma?

Answer 7

most common
can metastasie
surgically excised

Question 8

what increases a persons risk of getting a melanoma?

Answer 8

personal and family histor
multiple nodes
history of excessive sun exposure, sunbed use, multuple burns

Question 9

what can be noted about a lesion that is majorly relevant to melanoma diagnosis?

Answer 9

change in size
change in shape
change in colour

Question 10

what can be noted about a lesion that is minorly relevant to a melanoma diagnosis?

Answer 10

> 6mm
bleeding
sensation changes
inflammation

Question 11

how are melanomas treated?

Answer 11

surgical excision

chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy

Question 12

what is used to identify the severity of a mole?

Answer 12

ABCD
a - asymmetry
b - border - is it irregular?
c - colour - is there more than one?
d - diameter - is it over 6mm