Question

Summarize the characteristics and treatment of malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma (include actinic keratosis).

Answer 1

Answer :

Malignant melanoma :

• Melanoma can be appear suddenly as new mole or it can develop slowly in or near an existing mole .
• in men ,melanomas are often on found between the shoulders, hips , neck and head areas.
• In women, it often develops on the lower legsas well as between the shoulders and hips .
• many also appear under the fingernails or toe nails or palms and soles.

Charecteristic features :

A - asymmetry : one half of the mole or birthmark does not match the other .

B - border : the edges are irregular ,ragged ,notched or blurred.

C- colour : not same all over and may includes shades of brown or black or sometimes with patches of pink or red ,white ,blue.

D - diameter : spot is larger than 6 millimeters across,although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.

E - evolving : mole is changing the size or clorour .

treatment :

• Early stage : wide local excision .
• wide local excision + sentinel node biopsy .
• based on pathology : lympadectomy,observation and interferon.
• metastatic : clinical trials ,radiation therapy ,systematic chemotherapy .

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA :

• Features : typically slow growing
• rarely metastasizes .
• typically sporadic.
• Waxy papules with central depression.
• pearly appearance
• erosion and ulceration
• slowly enlarging lesions that does not heal and bleeds when trauma
• most commonly occurs on face .

Treatment :

• Electro dessication and curettage
• curattage alone .
• moh 's micro graphic controlled surgery .
• cryosurgery .
• surgical excision .
• exenteration .

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA :

Malignant tumours that begin in the squamous cell that form in the outer layer or epidermis of skin is called squamous cell carcinoma.

• It is a one type of skin cancer .
• it looks like a scaly red patches ,open sores ,elevated growth with central depression.or warts ,they may crust or bleed.
• most commonly found in mucous membranes ,genitals ,and other common areas that mostly exposed to sucn such as face ,rim of ear ,lower lips ,arms and legs .

Treatment :

• Radiation therapy May be recommended after surgery .
• systematic chemotherapy.
• excision
• curettage and electrodessication
• moh' s surgery .
• cryotherapy .