Dermatology AS Flashcards
What is the epidemiology of Malignant Melanoma?
F>M = 1.5:1
UK incidence = 10,000/yr and 2000 deaths a year. Increased 80% in 20yrs.
What are the features of malignant melanoma?
Asymmetry Border: irregular Colour: non-uniform Diameter >6mm Evolving/Elevation
Risk factors for malignant melanoma?
- Sunlight: esp intense exposure in early years.
- Fair skinned (Low Fitzpatrick Skin Type)
- Increased no. of common moles
- +ve FH
- Increased age
- Immunosuppression
What is the classification of malignant melanoma?
Superficial spreading Lentigo maligna melanoma - on the face normally Acral lentiginous - most common in people with darker skin. On the palm Nodular Melanoma Amelanotic
What is superficial spreading malignant melanoma?
- 70% of cases
- Irregular border, colour variation
- Commonest in Caucasian
- Grow slowly, mets late = better prognosis
- Common on legs in females. Grows slowly, often taking months or years to be recognised.
What is Lentigo Maligna malignant melanoma?
Melanoma in situ - slowly but may at some stage become invasive causing lentigo maligna melanoma.
Suspicious freckles on face or scalp of chronically sun-exposed patients. Location is face!
- Often elderly patients
- Face of scalp.
- A growing mole
What is the acral lentiginous malignant melanoma?
- Rare form
- Asian/blacks
- Palms, soles, subungual (with Hutchinson’s sign) (black line )
- Can arise in the nail unit.
- Enlarging discoloured skin patch on the palms.
What is nodular malignant melanoma?
- All sites
- Second most common.
- Younger age, new lesions
- Invade deeply and mets early = worst prognosis.
- Presents with a red or black lump or lump which bleeds or oozes.
Tends to affect people over age of 50, with fairer skin, and occur in chronically sun exposed area.
Melanocytic naevi are risk factors
Congenital = typically appear at or soon after birth.
- Usually greater than 1cm
- Increased risk of malignant transformation
Junctional = melanocytic naevi = circular macules, may have heterogenous colour even within same lesion.
- Most naevi of the palms, soles.
Compound naevi = domed pigmented nodule up to 1cm in diameter
- Arise from junctional naevi .
Spitz naevi
= Children, red or pink in colour. Grow up to 1cm and growth can be rapid this usually results in excision.
What is amelanotic melanoma?
Atypical appearance –> delayed diagnosis.
What is the staging and prognosis of malignant melanoma?
Breslow Depth
- Thickness of tumour to deepest point of dermal invasion
- <1mm = 95-100% 5yrs
- > 4mm = 50% 5yr survival.
Where do the mets go in malignant melanoma?
Liver
Eye
What is the management of Malignant melanoma?
- Excision + secondary margin excision depending on Bres Depth.
± lymphadenopathy
± adjuvant chem
What are the margins of excision related to breslow thickness?
Lesions 0-1mm thick = 1cm
1-2mm thick = 1-2 cms
2-4mm = 2-3 cm
>4 = 3cm
What are the poor prognostic indicators of malignant melanoma?
- Male sex
- Increased mitoses
- Satellite lesions
- Ulceration
What is a squamous cell carcinoma?
- Ulcerated lesions with hard, raised EVERTED edges
- Telangiectasia scattered around periphery.
- Sun exposed areas
Causes of squamous cell carcinoma?
Sun exposure: scalp, face, ears, lower leg
Arise due to immunosuppression eg HIV, renal transplant. this is because of the immunosuppressants (higher risk of SCC).
May arise in chronic ulcer: Marjolin’s Ulcer (long standing leg ulcer) due to chronic inflammation.
Xeroderma pigmentosa
Development from actinic keratoses and Bowen’s disease (isolated and well demarcated)
Actinic keratoses - sun-exposed area. = Crusty, small, scaly lesions. Sun-exposed areas and multiple lesions may be present.
May be pink, red, brown or same colour as the skin. Typically on sun-exposed areas. Multiple lesions may be present.
What are good prognostic factors for SCC?
Well differentiated tumours
<20mm diameter
<2mm deep
No associated disease
What are poor prognostic factors?
Poorly differentiated tumours
>20mm in diameter
>4mm deep
Immunosuppression for whatever reason.
What is the progression of SCC?
Solar/actinic keratosis –> Bowen’s –> SCC
Lymph node spread is rare.
What is the management of SCC?
Surgical excision:
- 4mm margin if lesions <20mm in diameters.
- 6mm margin if lesion >20mm.
Management of actinic keratoses
- Sun avoidance, sun cream.
- Fluorouracil cream - 2/3 week course. Red and inflamed skin
- Topical diclofenac used for mild AKs.
- topical imiquimod
- Cryotherapy
- Curettage and cautery.
What is actinic ketatoses?
Red, scaly lesion on his forehead. Initially small and flat but not erythematous and rough to touch.
Irregular, crust warty lesion
premalignant (1%/yr)
- In a person with 7 actinic keratosis, risk of subsequent SCC is 10% at 10 yrs.
Management of AK?
Avoid sun, sun cream
- Fluorouracil cream: 2-3 week course. Skin will become red and inflamed.
- Topical diclofenac
- Topical imiquimod
- Cryotherapy
- Curettage and cautery
What is Bowen’s Disease?
SCC in situ
Red/brown scaly plaques.
Intraepidermal SCC
More common in elderly females.
Red scaly patch. Often occur in sun-exposred areas such as lower limbs.
Management of Bowen’s Disease?
As for AK
- Cautery
- Cryo
- 5-FU
- Imiquimod