Cutaneous Malignancies Flashcards
What are the layers of the epidermis from superficial to deep?
- Stratum corneum
- Stratum licidum
- Stratum granulosum
- Stratum spinosum
- Stratum basale (dermis is immediately deep to this)
Mneumonic: Come Lets Get Sun Burnt
Four cell types of the epidermis
- Keratinocytes (80%)
- Merkel cells (mechanoreceptors)
- Langerhans cells (antigen processing and presenting cells)
- Melanocytes (pigmented dendritic cells
What is the H zone of the head and neck?
This area extends vertically from the angle of the mandible through the ear and preauricular region to the temple and is connected horizontally through the periorbital skin, nasal skin and upper lip.
- Denotes where SCC and BCC of the face potentially demonstrate a more aggressive course.
Which skin cancer is most common on the lower lip
SCC
Risk factors associated with lymphatic metastasis of cutaneous SCC?
- Area greater than 20mm
- Recurrent tumors
- Site of prior radiation or scar
- Rapidly growing tumor
- Perineural invasion
- Poorly differentiated tumors or high grade
- Depth >5mm
- Lymphovascular invasion
- Immunosuppression
Metastasis from cutaneous head and neck SCC commonly occur in which lymphatics
- 75% in the parotid bed
- 40% in level II
Risk factors for cutaneous SCC of the head and neck
- UV radiation
- Light skin pigmentation
- Ionizing radiation
- Immunosuppression
- Exposure to coal tar, asphalt, arsenic consumption
- Xeroderma pigmentosa, basal cell nevus syndrome
- Tendency to burn or freckle
- Male sex
Fitzpatrick scale
Classification of the color of skin and associated with decreasing risk of cutaneous malignancy
Type 1: pale white, blond or red hair, blue eyes, always burns never tans, freckles
Type 2: white, fair, blond or red, blue, green or hazel eyes, tans minimally, often burns
Type 3: fair skin, any hair and eye color, tans evenly, sometimes burns
Type 4: Mediterranean skin, rarely burns, tans easily
Type 5: dark brown skin, rarely burns, tans easily
Type 6: dark brown to black skin, never burns, tans very easily
Actinic keratosis
Also called a solar keratosis is a rough patch on the skin caused by years of sun exposure. Immunosuppressed individuals can also develop these. Fewer than 1/1000 will go on to become SCC but 60% of SCC can be traced back to an AK
Marjolin ulcer
A term used to describe an ulcerative SCC at the site of prior trauma, inflammation or scarring such as radiation or a burn
What % of nonmelanoa cutaneous malignancies are made up of SCC
20%
What pathologic finding in SCC is associated with the highest recurrence rate and regional metastasis?
Perineural invasion. This is associated with metastasis in 47% of patients.
Bowen disease
An intraepidermal SCC that manifests as enlarging, well demarcated erythematous plaque with surface crusting. Histologically it resembles SCC with atypical keratinocytes replacing epidermis. More common in women in the 6th and 7th decades of life. Can appear anywhere but more common in lower legs. Risks include sun exposure, arsenic, immunosuppression, viral infection. Tx with cryotherapy, curettage, excision, laser, PDT, 5-FU
What type of skin cancer is known for rapid progression of a swelling, dome shaped lesion that eventually resolves by sloughing off and scarring. It can have a central crater containing keratinous debris.
Keratoacanthoma
Symptoms to be elicited in an HPI for a newly diagnosed cutaneous SCC
Symptoms of advanced disease: numbness, pain, weakness, other perineural symptoms; weight loss, bone pain, shortness of breath, rapid growth, bleeding, fixation, neck mass to suggest locally advanced disease
What features of cutaneous SCC merit radiologic workup?
- Locally advanced disease (>2cm, fixation, numbness, perineural or lymphovascular invasion)
- Regionally advanced disease (palpable lymphadenopathy)
- Distant metastasis risk
- High risk patients (recurrent lesions, immunosuppression, history of radiation)
What is the most appropriate biopsy technique for deep ulcerated lesions of the skin of the head and neck?
Punch biopsy at the thickest portion of the lesion
- Full thickness biopsy should be attempted and should involve the reticular dermis or subcutaneous fat when possible.
T staging of head and neck nonmelanoma skin cancer
T1: smaller or equal to 2cm in greatest dimension
T2: 2-4cm or 2+ high risk features (>2mm invasion, clark level >IV, perineural invasion, primary site of the ear, primary site of non hair bearing lip, poorly or undifferentiated tumor)
T3: 4+ with minor bone erosion or perineural invasion
T4: gross cortical bone/marrow, skull base invasion
What locations of the head and neck are more likely to exhibit recurrence of cutaneous SCC
H zone due to these sites being the location of embryologic fusion affording tumor planes that provide avenues for spread.
What are appropriate margins for low risk cutaneous SCC?
4-6mm
Imiquimod
A local immune response modifier that induces activity or interferon alpha and other cytokines. Commonly used as a cream (brand name Aldara)
When is Mohs surgery indicated for cutaneous SCC of the head and neck?
Anatomically or aesthetically sensitive areas, where wide margins are not achievable (periorbital, nasal, periauricular, auricular, oral) or positive margins after WLE and potential extension into an area fulfilling the first criteria
When is radiation indicated for cutaneous SCC?
- Nonoperative candidates
- Positive margins or incomplete excision
- Solitary node >3cm or with extracapsular extension
- Multiple positive nodes
- Multiple recurrent disease despite appropriate treatment
- Perineural invasion
- T4 disease
Appropriate treatment of keratoacanthoma?
WLE can also use intralesional methotrexate and 5-FU for nonoperative cases
What proportion of BCC occur on the head and neck?
4 of 5 cutaneous BCC
Is upper lip cancer more common in men or women?
Women - 21% of lip cancers on the upper lip vs 3% of lip cancer in men
What % of cutaneous malignancies occur on the lower lip?
90%
Is basal cell carcinoma more likely on the upper lip or lower lip?
Upper lip (13% vs 1% of lower lip cancers)
What is the significance of BCC found in the folds of the face?
More likely recurrence and higher risk of spread due to embryonic fusion plates. Need close follow up.
Likelihood of regional nodal metastasis in BCC?
Rare. Occurs in less than 0.5% of patients
What is the mechanism by which UV B light damages skin?
Causes direct damage to DNA by exciting DNA molecules resulting in covalent bonds between adjacent cytosine bases. These dimers are read as AA by DNA polymerase and therefore corresponding TT is added to the growing strand.
Risk factors for BCC
Sun exposure, lightly pigmented skin, blue or green eyes, genetic conditions, tanning beds, arsenic, prior trauma, ionizing radiation, immunosuppression
High risk features for staging BCC
- Poor differentiation
- Perineural spread
- Origination of the ear or hair bearing lip
- Depth >2mm
- Clark level IV or V invasion
Clark levels
Clark levels of skin cancer. In Clark Level I, the cancer is in the epidermis only. In Clark Level II, the cancer has begun to spread into the papillary dermis (upper layer of the dermis). In Clark Level III, the cancer has spread through the papillary dermis into the papillary-reticular dermal interface but not into the reticular dermis (lower layer of the dermis). In Clark Level IV, the cancer has spread into the reticular dermis. In Clark Level V, the cancer has spread into the subcutaneous tissue.
What % of nonmelanocytic cutaneous neoplasms are BCC?
80%
Common types of BCC
There are 26 subtypes. The most common -
- Nodular: most common form, described as pearly with rolled borders and occasional central ulceration and peripheral telangectasias
- Morpheaform: (or sclerosis or fibrosing), irregular borders on yellow plaques, most aggressive type, high recurrence and worse prognosis
- Fibroepithelial: often a pink papule on the trunk
- Superficial: most common type on the trunk, irregularly shaped, waxy
- Other: commonly described as pigmented or micronodular
What % of BCC are nodular type?
56-78%
What subtype of BCC has the youngest average age at initial diagnosis?
Superficial
What aspect of morpheaform or sclerosing BCC type make them more aggressive?
They secrete collagenases enabling movement between anatomic subsites
What subtype of BCC is more common in Asian and African patients compared to Caucasians?
Pigmented BCC
Clinical constellation of basal cell nevus syndrome
Aka Gorlin syndrome - patients diagnosed at an early age with multifocal BCC, odontogenic keratocytes, bifid ribs, scoliosis, developmental delay and frontal bossing