Week 11: Melanomas

Question 1

What are the most common types of skin cancers?

Answer 1

Melanomas
Squamous cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma

Question 2

Why are skin diseases very common?

Answer 2

Due to the skin being the largest and most visible organ

Question 3

What are the 4 types of benign skin tumors?

Answer 3

Seborrheic Keratosis
Actinic Keratosis
Keratoacanthoma
Nevi

Question 4

What does keratosis mean?

Answer 4

Term for any skin condition involving the growth of keratinocytes or formation of keratin due to a chronic injury

Question 5

Where does Seborrheic keratosis occur?

Answer 5

In areas with dense sebaceous glands such as the face, armpits, and genitals

Question 6

What does seborrheic keratosis look like?

Answer 6

Macules or plaques appearing as elevated or flat lesions

May have irregular pigmentation patterns due to chronic inflammation

Has small white areas due to dead keratinocytes

Question 7

What does actinic refer to, in actinic keratosis?

Answer 7

Refers to sun damage

Question 8

What causes actinic keratosis?

Answer 8

UV irradiation which damages the dermis and collagen

Question 9

In actinic keratosis, what does the collagen damage lead to?

Answer 9

Wrinkling

Question 10

What kind of individuals are more likely to get actinic keratosis?

Answer 10

Individuals with less pigment

Question 11

Actinic keratosis is benign, but what else is it considered?

Answer 11

Pre cancerous as it can develop into squamous cell carcinoma

Question 12

What is keratoacanthoma?

Answer 12

A well defined nodule formed by keratinocytes

Question 13

What is seen in a biopsy for keratoacanthoma?

Answer 13

Large amounts of keratin

Question 14

What does the centre of a keratoacanthoma look like?

Answer 14

Center often contains a white area composed of dying keratinocytes due to poor blood supply

Question 15

What is a nevi?

Answer 15

Benign growths of melanocytes

Question 16

What are melanocytes?

Answer 16

Cells at the bottom of the epidermis that produce melanin

Question 17

What does a nevi look like?

Answer 17

Hyperpigmented macules or slightly elevated papules

Question 18

Where can a nevi be located?

Answer 18

In the epidermis

The junction between epidermis and dermis

Deep in the dermis

Question 19

What does a nevi look like if its deep?

Answer 19

Blue

Question 20

Can a nevi ever become malignant?

Answer 20

No, it always is benign

Question 21

What are the 4 types of malignant skin tumors?

Answer 21

Kaposi sarcoma
Basal cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Melanoma

Question 22

When did kaposi sarcoma become prominent again?

Answer 22

With the emergence of HIV/AIDS

Question 23

What causes Kaposi sarcoma?

Answer 23

HHV-8

Question 24

What is HHV-8?

Answer 24

Carcinogenic and causes malignancy in endothelial cells, this is why kaposi sarcoma is cancer of the endothelial cells

Question 25

What do the lessons in Kaposi sarcoma look like?

Answer 25

Appear red due to the involvement of endothelial cells

Question 26

Can Kaposi sarcoma metastasize?

Answer 26

Yes it can

Question 27

What is special about basal cell carcinoma?

Answer 27

It is very common and is often excluded from cancer stats

Question 28

Where does basal cell carcinoma originate from?

Answer 28

Basal cells of the epidermis

Question 29

Can basal cell carcinoma metastasize?

Answer 29

No, its very curable

Question 30

What is treatment for basal cell carcinoma?

Answer 30

Surgical removal of the cancer and its invaded areas No chemo or radiation as it doesn't metastasize

Question 31

Where does squamous cell carcinoma originate from?

Answer 31

In the epidermis, specifically from keratinocytes

Question 32

Can squamous cell carcinoma metastasize?

Answer 32

Yes, its very aggressive

Question 33

How is early staging done for squamous cell carcinoma?

Answer 33

CT and biopsy

Question 34

What happens if squamous cell carcinoma is diagnosed late?

Answer 34

Can be fatal

Question 35

What is important in regards to melanomas?

Answer 35

Most aggressive type of skin cancer

Question 36

Can melanomas metastasize?

Answer 36

Yes to distant sites

Question 37

How is the growth rate for melanomas?

Answer 37

Grows rapidly usually within a year

Question 38

What do basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas look like?

Answer 38

Nodules or plaques

Question 39

What are warning signs for basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma?

Answer 39

Development of wounds/ulcers on the surface of the nodules or plaques Non-healing wounds

Question 40

What age group is most affected by basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas?

Answer 40

Age 60-70

Question 41

What is the ABCD tool?

Answer 41

Tool used to identify suspicious pigmented lesions that may be melanomas

Question 42

What does A stand for in the ABCD tool?

Answer 42

Asymmetry Melanomas grow asymmetrically, invading downwards into the dermis and epidermis

Question 43

What does B stand for in the ABCD tool?

Answer 43

Borders In melanomas they're irregular or poorly defined

Question 44

What does C stand for in the ABCD tool?

Answer 44

Colour Irregular pigmentation, some areas darker than others Well differentiated cells still produce melanin while the poorly differentiated do not

Question 45

What does D stand for in the ABCD tool?

Answer 45

Diameter Any larger than 6mm are likely melanomas

Question 46

Are melanomas always associated with sun exposure?

Answer 46

Usually they are, but they can also occur in areas that are not exposed to the sun

Question 47

What are the 4 types of melanomas?

Answer 47

Superficial Nodular Lentigo Malignia: Grows superficially and sideways often resembles age related pigmentation on the face Acral Lentiginous: Present on hands and feet

Question 48

What is Clark's level of invasion?

Answer 48

Describes how deeply the melanoma has invaded the skin Deeper the invasion the worse the prognosis is

Question 49

What are the levels in clarks level of invasion?

Answer 49

1-5 1 being confined to epidermis 5 being invaded into the hypodermis (fatty layer)

Question 50

What is Breslows thickness measurement?

Answer 50

Measures the vertical thickness of the melanoma in mm Measures from skins surface to the deepest point of tumor invasion

Question 51

What does breslows thickness measurement tell us?

Answer 51

Greater thickness indicates a higher risk of metastasis and poorer prognosis

Question 52

What is a good treatment for melanomas?

Answer 52

Immunotherapy