Skin Cancers Flashcards

1
Q

Basal Cell Carcinoma

A
  • cancer of basal cells, germinative keratinocytes
  • basophilic (BLUE!) hyperchromatic cells that form nodules, extends from basal layer into epidermis/outward
  • within a nodule: peripheral cells form a palisade (wall), and are set in a mucinous stroma, which can retract and form a cleft
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2
Q

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A
  • cancer of epidermal keratinocytes, resembles s. spinosum
  • hyperchromatic, pleomorphic nuclei, disorganized growth, mitoses and invasion through the basal layer.
  • cells are pink and keratinizing, make keratin pearls and scales externally
  • progression:
    1) minimal atypia, aka actinic keratosis
    2) SCC in situ - based on full thickness atypia
    3) invasion - into dermis; metastases
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3
Q

Risk Factors for BCC

For SCC

A
  • BCC: UV, light skin, h/o sunburns (esp blistering), fam h/o BCC, imm.supp. (but not as influential here as in SCC)
  • SCC: UV, HPV, chronic inflammation, burn scars, chemicals esp. arsenic, radiation, leukoplakia, imm.supp.
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4
Q

Actinic keratosis

A
  • “pre-cancerous” skin lesions
  • usually very flat/thin and not indurated, because they consist of a few atypical keratinocytes in the epidermis (not the whole epidermis)
  • often appear in sun-exposed areas of skin
  • nuclei may be retained in the cornified layer, which corresponds to the scale on the surface of the skin
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5
Q

SCC in situ

A

characterized by atypical cells spanning the full-thickness of the epidermis; can notice this clinically when the lesion is indurated

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6
Q

Risk of SCC metastasis - rate, location, and RFs

A
  • Overall risk of mets is 4mm deep (or SQ extension)

4) SIZE of tumor: greater risk if >2cm

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7
Q

Keratoacanthoma

A

Painful neoplasm of keratinocytes (possibly a subtype of SCC) that grows rapidly over 2-6 weeks; may involute spontaneously.
In the picture looks like a bump with a gross scaly topping of keratin.

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8
Q

Marjolin’s Ulcer

A

An ulcerated invasive SCC arising on a background of chronic inflammation, scarring, radiation, trauma—basically the SCC RFs
*a classic presentation is SCC in a burn scar

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9
Q

Bowen’s disease

A

A type of SCC in situ, but with highly atypical cells

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10
Q

Erythroplasia of Queyrat

A

A type of SCC in situ but specifically on penis/vulva

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