Skin Cancer Flashcards
non-melanoma skin cancer
what is the peidemiology of non-melanoma skin cancer?
- 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
what are risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancers?
- UV radiation
- Photochemotherapy (PUVA)
- Chemical carcinogens
- Ionising radiation
- Human papilloma virus
- Familial cancer syndromes
- Immunosuppression
what is basal cell carcinoma?
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
describe the properties of a nodular basal cell carcinoma?
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
what does a basal cell carcinoma look like in histology?
Nests of basal cells that retract form surrounding stroma so this gap
pictures showing more nodular BCC
what are other types of BCCs?
pigmented (left)
morphoeic (right)
what is the treatment of BCCs?
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
what is mohns surgery? and its indications
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
what is Vismodegib?
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
what are the indications for vismodegib?
Locally advanced BCC not suitable for surgery or radiotherapy
Metastatic BCC
what are the side effects of vesmodegib?
Hair loss, weight loss, altered taste
Muscle spasms, nausea, fatigue
what is squamous cell carcinoma?
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
what is the treatment of SCC?
- Excision
- +/- Radiotherapy
- Follow up if high risk
- Immunosuppressed
- >20mm diameter
- >4mm depth
- Ear, nose, lip, eyelid
- Perineural invasion
- Poorly differentiated
what is Keratoacanthoma?
- Varient of squamous cell carcinoma
- Erupts from hair follicles in sun damaged skin
- Grows rapidly, may shrink after a few months and resolve
what is the treatment of a keratoacanthoma?
• Surgical excision
melanoma skin cancer