Skin Cancer + Leg Ulcers Flashcards
what are the 2 categories of skin cancer?
- melanoma
- non-melanoma
within the non melanoma category of skin cancer, what are the 2 types of cancer?
- squamous cell carcinoma
- basal cell carcinoma
where do basal cell carcinomas arise from?
keratinocytes within the basal layer of the epidermis
where do squamous cell carcinomas arise from?
keratiocytes within suprabasal layers of the epidermis
where do melanomas arise from?
melanocytes within the basal layer of the epidermis
what is the fastest increasing cancer in scotland?
melanomas
compare BCCs and SCCs in terms of onset?
BCCs- slow-growing
SCCs- grow much faster
compare BCCs and SCCs in terms of likelihood to metastasise?
BCCs rarely metastasise
SCCs metastasise much more frequently
compare BCCs and SCCs in terms of pain?
SCCs are more likely to be painful
compare BCCs, SCCs and melanomas in terms of possible sun exposure causes?
BCCs + melanomas- tend to be due to previous high intensity intermittent sun exposure (eg burning as a child)
SCCs- tend to be due to cumulative sun exposure
if a melanoma depth is less than 1mm, what is the 5 year survival rate?
95 - 100%
if a melanoma depth is greater than 4mm, what is the 5 year survival rate?
50%
if there is evidence of distant spread of a melanoma, what is the 5 year survival rate?
5%
what is the ABCDE rule for a suspected melanoma?
Asymmetry Border Colour Diameter Evolution
what colour of a lesion should suggest a melanoma?
dark brown
what blood vessels can you usually see within a BCC?
absorbing blood vessels
why are morphoeic (infiltrative) BCCs the most difficult to manage?
even though they look small, they are sending roots into the surrounding skin
what are the 2 known precursor lesions to a SCC?
actinic keratoses
bowen’s disease
what is a keratoacanthoma?
a lesion which mimics an SCC but is benign and self-resolving
what does a bowen’s disease lesion look like?
erythematous plaque
in Europe and Australia, SCCs are more commonly caused by sun exposure, in Asia what is the most common cause?
caused by a chronic ulcer
what is skin type 1?
always burns, never tans
what is skin type 2?
usually burns, can tan
what is skin type 3?
usually tans, can burn
what is skin type 4?
always tans, never burns
what is skin type 5?
‘brown’ skin
what is skin type 6?
‘black’ skin
what skin type is most prone to developing skin cancers?
type 1 skin
recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is caused by a deficiency with what type of collagen?
type 7