Pestana- 8. Skin Surgery Flashcards
Which skin condition may show up as a small, raised waxy lesion or as a non-healing ulcer?
basal cell carcinoma
How do you diagnose and treat basal cell carcinoma?
excision in toto
What must you do if a patient presents with a non-healing ulcer?
get a full-thickness biopsy at the edge of the lesion (probably basal cell but must differentiate between other skin cancers)
Why must you remove a basal cell carcinoma?
it grows very slowly and can kill by local invasion
How large of a clear margin do you need when removing a BCC?
1mm
What type of surgery may be done to get clear margins on the face without disfigurement?
Mohs
Via what route will squamous cell carcinoma metastasize?
lymphatic
How large of a clear margin do you need when removing a squamous cell carcinoma?
0.5- 2cm
When do you worry about a pigmented skin lesion?
when it is larger than 0.5 cm
What is the treatment for melanomas
local excision
What size indicates that a melanoma will have a terrible prognosis?
> 4 mm
What is the preferred adjuvant systemic therapy for metastatic melanoma?
interferon
