Non-melanoma skin cancer Flashcards
most common skin cancer
basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
where do BCCs arise from
keratinocytes in basal layer of epidermis
prognosis of basal cell carcinoma
very good prognosis - locally invasive but rarely metastasise
types of BCC
nodular superficial spreading infiltrative/morphoeic
most common type of BCC
nodular
presentation nodular BCC
slow growing shiny, pearly nodule with rolled edge, central ulceration, telangiectasia sun exposed sites

where on body are superficial spreading BCCs often found
trunk
gold standard treatment for BCC
excision biopsy with 4mm margins
what surgical option can be used for difficult sites when tissue preservation is important e.g. eyelid
moh’s surgery
what other treatment options may be appropriate for small BCC’s
curettage (<1cm) cryotherapy topical therapy - 5 fluorouracil / imiquimod – incisional biopsy still needed
pre-malignant lesions for squamous cell carcinoma
actinic keratosis
bowens disease
appearance of actinic keratosis
thick, rough, scaly, red/yellow lesions on sun exposed sites
what things may raise suspicions of malignancy in actinic keratosis
>1cm
growing
thick
bleeding
painful
treatment of actinic keratosis
1-2 lesions
>2 lesions
1-2: cryotherapy
>2: 5 fluorouracil cream (efudix)
what is bowens disease
intra-epidermal squamous cell carcinoma
- SCC in situ
presentation of bowens disease
well definied, red, scaly plaque
usually on leg / other sun exposed sites
treatment of bowens disease
5-fluorouracil
cryotherapy
what cancer is more common in immunosuppressed / transplant patients
SCC
Presentation of SCC
rapily growing painful, ulcerated irregular lesion with hard raised edge
found on sun exposed sites
what are SCC’s on the lip linked to
smoking
Treatment of SCC
surgical excision 4mm margin
what treatments can be used in superficial SCCs
topical 5-fluorouracil / imiquimod
what antibiotic can be used in mild actinic keratosis treatment
topical diclofenac
do invasive BCCs respond well to chemo or radiotherapy?
radiotherapy