Skin cancer (Hosp 4) Flashcards
What histological features indicate a diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma?
1) Basaloid nests
2) Retraction artefact (infiltrative pattern)
Sebaceous glands surround…
Hair follicles
Melanoma typically appears as a…
Irregular varied pigmentation. (Could still be an atypical mole)
Lack of epidermis leads to….
Ulceration (poor prognosis)
What is Breslow’s thickness?
The distance between the upper layer of the epidermis and the deepest point of tumour penetration.
Important to determine prognosis.
What are Clark levels?
Describes the level of anatomical invasion of melanoma into the tissue.
Level 1 –> Melanoma confined to the epidermis (melanoma in situ)
Level 2 –> Invasion into the papillary dermis.
Level 3 –> Invasion to the junction of the papillary and reticular dermis.
Level 4 –> Invasion into the reticular dermis.
Level 5 –> Invasion into the subcutaneous fat.
Some features indicating poor prognosis include…
1) Microsatellites
2) Perineural invasion
3) Ulceration
What skin cancer is least likely to metastasise?
Basal cell carcinoma
Excisional biopsies are used for what suspected skin cancers?
Melanomas or unsure
Punch biopsies are used for what suspected skin cancers?
Basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma
Normal skin has how many melanocytes to keratinocytes?
1 melanocyte to 3 keratinocyte
What is used to stage melanoma tumours?
Thickness of tumour
What is used to stage basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas?
Size and diameter of tumour
