Lumps and Bumps

Question 1

Compare and contrast the appearance of BCCs and SCCs

Answer 1

• BCC (SCC)
• Shape - sessile/flat (raised)
• Surface - shiny/pearly/divoted (keratinised/exposive)
• Edge - circumscribed (surrounding inflammation)
• Base - surface telangiectasia (keratinised)

Question 2

What are the important descriptors to cover when assessing a new lump?

Answer 2

• Tenderness
• Temperature
• Size
• Depth
• Surface and edge
• Composition
• Pulsation
• Mobility (important for depth localisation)
• Reducability

Question 3

What are the defning features on history of a keratoacanthoma?

Answer 3

• Central keratin horn
• History is short (days)

Question 4

How can you distinguish an incisional hernia from divarication of recti clinically?

Answer 4

• Incisional herniae bulge on coughing
• Divarication of recti causes bulge on sitting (not cough)