Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

year 2 dermatology > Skin Cancer > Flashcards

Skin Cancer Flashcards

1
Q

non-melanoma skin cancer

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is the peidemiology of non-melanoma skin cancer?

A
  • Basal cell cancer & Squamous cell cancer
  • Incidence has increased in the last 30-40 years
  • 1 31,000 cases in the UK each year - Underestimate
  • BCCs account for 70% of NMSCs
  • BCCs incidence from 146 to 788/100000
  • SCCs 38 to 250/100000
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what are risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancers?

A
  • UV radiation
  • Photochemotherapy (PUVA)
  • Chemical carcinogens
  • Ionising radiation
  • Human papilloma virus
  • Familial cancer syndromes
  • Immunosuppression
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is basal cell carcinoma?

A

Basal cell carcinoma begins in the basal cells - a type of cell within the skin that produces new skin cells as old ones die off

Slow growing

Locally invasive

Rarely metastasise

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

describe the properties of a nodular basal cell carcinoma?

A

Nodular:

  • Pearly rolled edge
  • Telangiectasia (widened venules (tiny blood vessels) cause threadlike red lines or patterns on the skin)
  • Central ulceration
  • Arborising vessels on dermoscopy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what does a basal cell carcinoma look like in histology?

A

Nests of basal cells that retract form surrounding stroma so this gap

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

pictures showing more nodular BCC

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what are other types of BCCs?

A

pigmented (left)

morphoeic (right)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what is the treatment of BCCs?

A

surgery

• Excision is gold standard

  • Ellipse, with rim of unaffected skin
  • Curative if fully excised
  • Will leave a scar
  • Curettage in some circumstances
  • Imiquimod if superficial
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what is mohns surgery? and its indications

A

Take what they see with a bit of normal skin and the onsite pathologist looks around its rim and edge to see if all the cancer is out but if not then will remove more from residual edge where there is still some cancer left

• Indications:

  • Site
  • Size
  • Subtype
  • Poor clinical margin definition
  • Recurrent
  • Perineural or perivascular involvement
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what is Vismodegib?

A

a drug for the treatment of basal-cell carcinoma

Selectively inhibits abnormal signalling in the Hedgehog pathway (molecular driver in BCC)

Can shrinks tumour and heal visible lesions in some

Median progression free survival 9.5 months

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what are the indications for vismodegib?

A

Locally advanced BCC not suitable for surgery or radiotherapy

Metastatic BCC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what are the side effects of vesmodegib?

A

Hair loss, weight loss, altered taste

Muscle spasms, nausea, fatigue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is squamous cell carcinoma?

A

a type of skin cancer that begins in the squamous cells. Squamous cells are the thin, flat cells that make up the epidermis, or the outermost layer of the skin

Derived from keratinising squamous cells

Usually on sun exposed sites

Can metastasise, up to 16% depending on study

Faster growing, tender, scaly/crusted or fleshy growths

Can ulcerate

Can get well differentiate carcinoma or poorly differentiated ones that are higher risk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is the treatment of SCC?

A
  • Excision
  • +/- Radiotherapy
  • Follow up if high risk
  • Immunosuppressed
  • >20mm diameter
  • >4mm depth
  • Ear, nose, lip, eyelid
  • Perineural invasion
  • Poorly differentiated
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what is Keratoacanthoma?

A
  • Varient of squamous cell carcinoma
  • Erupts from hair follicles in sun damaged skin
  • Grows rapidly, may shrink after a few months and resolve
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what is the treatment of a keratoacanthoma?

A

• Surgical excision

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

melanoma skin cancer

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what is the epidemiology of melanoma skin cancer?

A
  • The incidence of malignant melanoma has increased by 360% since the 1970s in the UK
  • About 10 to 40 per 100000 per annum
  • Mortality is about 1.9 per 100000 per annum
20
Q

what are the risk factors of melanoma skin cancer?

A
  • UV Radiation
  • Genetic susceptibility - fair skin, red hair, blue eyes and tendency to burn easily
  • Familial melanoma and melanoma susceptibility genes
21
Q

what is the ABCDE rule of melanoma skin cancer?

A
  • Asymmetry
  • Border
  • Colour
  • Diameter
  • Evolution
22
Q

what is the 7 point checklist for melanoma skin cancer?

A

• Major features:

  • Change in size
  • Change in shape
  • Change in colour

• Minor features:

  • Diameter more than 5 mm
  • Inflammation
  • Oozing or bleeding
  • Mild itch or altered sensation
23
Q

what is Dermoscopy?

A
  • dermoscope’ or ‘dermatoscope’
  • Improved clinical accuracy compared to unaided eye
24
Q

what are different types of melanoma?

A

Superficial Spreading Malignant Melanoma (most common)

Lentigo Maligna Melanoma (mainly found on face and neck, particularly the nose and cheek)

Nodular Melanoma

Acral Lentiginous Melanoma/Subungal Melanoma (appears on palsm of hands, soles of feet and nails)

Ocular melanoma

25
pictures of melanomas: Superficial Spreading Malignant Melanoma
Lentigo Maligna Melanoma
26
pictures of melanomas: Nodular Melanoma
Acral Lentiginous Melanoma/Subungal Melanoma
27
pictures of melanomas: Ocular Melanoma
28
what is the treatment of melanoma skin cancer?
• Urgent surgical excision - Subtype - Breslow thickness Thicker it is – lower the 10 year survival rate * Wide local excision * Sentinel lymph node biopsy - First lymph node that it drains to and remove it and see if there is only melanoma deposit in that lymph node – optional and offered to the patient if they meet the criteria and helps give them the prognosis * Chemotherapy – almost never * Radiotherapy - rarely * Immunotherapy – metastasis or adjuvent therapy * Regular follow up * Primary and Secondary Preventio
29
What is the treatment of Metastatic Melanoma and Adjuvent Therapy?
• Ipilimumab: ## Footnote - Inhibits CTLA-4 molecule - One year survival 47-51% (double those not on treatment) • Pembrolizumab: - Targets PD-1 receptor on tumour cell - One year survival 68-74% in metastatic disease - Adjuvent therapy in those with complete surgical resection of lymph node/metastatic disease • Nivolumab (also PD-1 antibody): - Single agent (one year survival 72.9%) or in combination with Ipilimumab in metastatic disease. - Adjuvent therapy in those with complete surgical resection of lymph node/metastatic disease • Vemurafenib and Dabrafenib: - Blocks B-RAF protein - Only useful if B-RAF mutation - Median survival 10.5 months (7.8 months with standard chemotherapy) • Trametinib: - Used in combination with Dabrafenib * Reduced toxicity * Increased response - MEK inhibitor - In those with B-RAF mutation the MEK pathway is hyperactive resulting in uncontrolled growth of melanocytes
30
cutaneous lymphoma
31
What is cutaneous lymphoma?
* Secondary cutaneous disease from systemic/nodal involvement * Primary cutaneous disease – abnormal neoplastic proliferation of lymphocytes in the skin - Cutaneous T Cell lymphoma (65%) - Cutaneous B Cell lymphoma (20%)
32
what are the types of Cutaneous T Cell lymphoma (65%)?
**- Mycosis fungoides - MF varients** **- Sezary syndrome** - CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders - Subcutaneous panniculitis like T cell lymphoma - Cutaneous CD4+ lymphoma - Extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma
33
what are the types of Cutaneous B Cell lymphoma (20%)?
- Cutaneous follicle centre lymphoma - Cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma - Cutaneous diffuse large B Cell lymphoma
34
what is Mycosis Fungoides?
most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma Most common CTCL & accounts for around 50% of all primary cutaneous lymphomas Incidence 6 per 1 million population
35
what causes Mycosis Fungoides, who is it common in and is it painful?
* Cause unknown * More common in older patients and more common in men than women * Indolent course (causing little or no pain)
36
what are the stages of MF?
patch plaque tumour metastatic
37
what happens in the patch stage of MF?
Flat, red, dry oval lesions Usually covered sites May slowly enlarge of spontaneously resolve May itch Difficult to differentiate from eczema/psoriasis
38
what is involved in the plaque stage of MF?
Patches become thickened Generally itch
39
what is involved in the tumour stage of MF?
Large irregular lumps, can ulcerate Arise from existing plaques or in normal skin More likely to have metastatic spread
40
what is involved in the metastaic stage of MF?
Infiltration of neoplastic cells in lymph nodes, blood and solid organs
41
what is Sezary Syndrome?
* “Red Man Syndrome” * CTCL affecting skin of entire body - Skin thickened, scaly and red Itchy++ * Lymph node involvement * Sezary cells in peripheral blood - Atypical T cells
42
what is the prognosis of Sezary Syndrome?
Poor prognosis: - Median survival 2-4 years - Opportunistic infection
43
what is the treatment of cutaneous lymphoma?
• Dependant on stage: - Topical steroids - PUVA or UVB - Localised radiotherapy - Interferon - Bexarotene - Low dose Methotrexate - Chemotherapy - Total skin electron beam therapy - Extracorporeal photophoresis - Bone marrow transplantation
44
what is total skin electon beam therapy?
* Type of radiotherapy consisting of very small electrically charged particles * Delivers radiation primarily to superficial layers i.e. Epidermis and Dermis * Spares deeper tissues and organs
45
how is Extracorporeal photophoresis carried out?
* Step 1 - Patients blood is drawn and leucocytes collected * Step 2 - Collected white cells mixed with psoralen which makes the T-Cells sensitive to UVA radiation * Step 3 - Exposed to UVA radiation, damaging diseased cells * Step 4 - Treated cells re-infused back to patient
46
what can cutaneous metastases be due to?
Can be secondary to primary skin malignancy such as melanoma or due to primary solid organ malignancy Most commonly breast, colon and lung
47
what is the managament of cutaneous metastases?
* Treat the underlying malignancy * Local excision * Localised radiotherapy * Symptomatic

year 2 dermatology (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions