Skin cancers and benign tumours

Question 1

What is ABCDE and what is it used to diagnose?

Answer 1

Used to diagnose melanoma
Asymmetry
Border
Colour
Diameter (>5mm?)
Evolving

Question 2

What is the appearance of a BCC?

Answer 2

Surface telangiectasia
Pearly rolled edge
Ulcerated centre

Question 3

What are the risk factors for BCC?

Answer 3

UV exposure
Hx of skin cancer
Increasing age
Skin type I

Question 4

How do you manage a BCC?

Answer 4

Topical (imiquimod)
Surgical excision (it will grow)
Cryo, curettage

Question 5

What is the appearance of a SCC?

Answer 5

Keratotic (scaly)
Ill-defined
Often hard (wart-like)
May bleed, itch, be painful

Question 6

What are the risk factors for SCC?

Answer 6

UV exposure
Immunosuppression
Smoking
Chronic inflammation (eg leg ulcers)

Question 7

How do you manage a SCC?

Answer 7

Surgical excision

Radiotherapy if too large

Question 8

What are the risk factors for malignant melanoma?

Answer 8

UV exposure
Having lots of (atypical) melanocytic naevi
FHx / Hx of skin cancer

Question 9

How do you manage melanoma?

Answer 9

Surgical excision - large margin

Chemo for metastatic disease

Question 10

What is an actinic keratosis?

Answer 10

Scaly, rough lesion which can be a pre-cursor to SCC

Treat topically to prevent cancerous change

Question 11

What is a keratoacanthoma?

Answer 11

Benign growth that develops rapidly on sun exposed sites
Can be mistaken for SCC
But can have SCC beneath so should be excised

Question 12

What is a seborrhoeic keratosis?

Answer 12

A benign, pigmented wart-like growth

Can be mistaken for cancer