Skin Cancers

Question 1

What is located in the dermis?

Answer 1

Capillaries & Arterioles

Cutaneous appendages, pilary complexes, sebaceous glands, apocrine and epocrine glands

Question 2

What is leukoplakia?

Answer 2

Raised white patches of mucous membranes
Will not wipe off like thrush
Located on lower lip, oral mucosa and vulva

Question 3

What is erythroplakia?

Answer 3

Red patches of mucous membrane

91% lead to cancers

Question 4

What is Bowen’s disease?

Answer 4

Erythematous plaques
Resembles bcc
May turn in to SCC with high rate of mets

Question 5

What is arsenical keratosis?

Answer 5

Skin lesions r/t increased arsenic intake

Usually on soles and palms

Question 6

What is solar keratosis?

Answer 6

Also known as actinic keratosis
Result of cumulative effects of uv light
Usually turns into SCC with a low rate of mets

Question 7

Which UV light causes the most damage?

Answer 7

UVB

Question 8

What is primary prevention for skin cancer?

Answer 8

Sunscreen use with spf 15-20
Apply 15-30min before
Reapply every 90 minutes and after toweling off

Question 9

What is keratin?

Answer 9

Fibrous protein in epidermis

Absorbs photons in UVA and UVB light

Question 10

What is melanin?

Answer 10

Brownish black pigment in epidermis

Blocks and Scatters uv light and turns it into heat

Question 11

Describe effect of ozone layer

Answer 11

Absorbs UVB
Filters UVC
When ozone layer decreases UVB penetration increases

Question 12

Predisposing factors for SCC and BCC?

Answer 12

Albinism
Xeroderma pigmentosum
Chronic radiodermatitis
BCC ONLY: Arsenic intake

Question 13

Which skin cancer is the most common?

Answer 13

BCC

Question 14

What is the most common type of BCC?

Answer 14

Noduloulcerative

• translucent, pearly nodules with telangiectic lesions
• central areas of ulceration

Question 15

Second most common type of BCC

Answer 15

Superficial BCC

• scaling, erythemic patches
• superficial ulceration

Question 16

What is a rare type of BCC?

Answer 16

Sclerosing or morphea-like
White indurated lesions
Deeply invasive

Question 17

What are the ABCDE of melanoma?

Answer 17

Asymmetry
Border
Color (mixed, black, blue, brown)
Diameter (>6mm)
Elevation

Question 18

What is the most common type of melanoma?

Answer 18

Superficial spreading melanoma

Question 19

Characteristics of superficial spreading melanoma

Answer 19

Most common type; 70%
Occurs in younger age group
Usually in upper back

Question 20

Characteristics of Lentigo Maligna melanoma

Answer 20

Common in elderly
Starts as tan macular lesions
Turn brown, black, then invade and mets

Question 21

Characteristics of melanoma on the mucous membrane

Answer 21

Common in blacks and Asians

Worse prognosis r/t later diagnosis

Question 22

Breslow’s classification

Answer 22

Measured in millimeters

Distance from epidermis to deepest identifiable layer of MM cells

Question 23

What is the degree of inflammatory response?

Answer 23

Lymphocytic infiltration into the tumor area

Associated with a better prognosis

Question 24

Characteristics of dysplastic Nevus syndrome

Answer 24

Genetic
MM begins earlier in life
Higher survival rate

Question 25

Characteristics of head and neck cancer

Answer 25

Usually in epidermal layer or mucous membrane

Hpv tumors have better prognosis

Question 26

Describe basal cells

Answer 26

Cuboidal or columnar cells

Located in epidermis