Condition- Skin Cancers Flashcards
What is a basal cell cancer?
Malignant cancer that arises from cells of the stratum basale of the epidermis. It is the most common skin cancer
What is the main risk factor for developing skin cancers?
UV exposure
List two hereditary/ genetic conditions which predisposes you to BCC
- Xeroderma pigmentosum- defect in DNA repair mechansim
- Gorlin’s syndrome- syndrome of multipls BCCs
Which type of cancer is this? State the distinguishing features
(Nodular) Basal Cell Carcinoma- superficial lesion, pearly, rolled edges, telangiectasia, central ulcer, grows slowly
Which part of the body are basal cell cancers often found?
Sun-exposed areas- face, periocular, neck, scalp
How are basal cell carcinomas investigated?
Clinical diagnosis, rarely required biopsy, routine referral
What is a squamous cell carcinoma?
A malignancy of epidermal keratinocytes. It is the second most common type of skin cancer
What % of SCCs metastasize?
around 5%
What precancerous lesion often preceded SCCs?
Actinic keratosis
List some causes and risk factors for SCC
Causes:
- UV raditaion
- HPV infection
- preceding actinic keratosis
- Bowen’s disease
Risk factors:
- immunosupression
- carcinogens (tobacco)
- xeroderma pigmentosum
- fair skin
Describe the typical apperance of an SCC lesion
hyperkeratotic (keratin horn), ulcerated, bleeding, crusted/scaly, non-healing
Which investigations might you conduct on someone with a s suspected SCC?
Dermatoscopy, excisional biopsy, lymph node aspiration, CT/MRI for staging. Requires urgent referral due to risk of mets
What is a melanoma?
A malignant skin cancer arising from melanocytes. Most aggressive and deadly skin cancer due to high metastatic risk
Melanocytes may arise from a preceding lesion________
Melanocytic Naevi (mole)- a cell which overproduces melanosomes
List the 4 variants of melanomas
- Superficial spreading melanoma
- lentigo maligna
- nodular melanoma
- arcal lentiginous melanoma
Which type of melanoma is this?
Superficial spreadling melanoma- arises from a prior melanocytic naevus
Which type of melanoma is this?
Nodular Melanoma- red, black lump, arises in sun-exposed parts of the body
Which type of skin cancer is this? Describe its distinguishing features? Where on the body does it usually arise?
Lentigo maligna, large, flat, irregular, brown in colour, arises from prior naevus, usually arises on face
Which type of melanoma is this? Which part of this body does it usually arise? Which ethnicity is it common in?
Arcal Lentiginous melanoma- common in African and asians. Arises on palms, soles and subungual areas
Which type of melanoma is the most aggressive and metastasizes earliest?
Nodular melanomas
Rank the different skin cancers in order of metastatic risk
Melanoma => SCC => BCC
State two ways in which full-thickness excisional biopsies of melanomas can be categorised
Breslow’s thickness and Clark’s level
State the mnemonic which suggest that a melanocytic lesion is malignant
Asymmetry, Border Irregularity, Colour variability, Diameter >6mm, Evolution in size and shape
Describe the typical apperance of a melanoma
ABCDE, bleeding, oozing, ulceration, pruritus, FLAWS (suggest mets)
What are the most common sites of melanocytic metastasis?
Lymph nodes, lungs, liver and brain
