Skin cancer surgery

Skin cancer Microchapters

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Melanoma
Basal cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
Actinic keratosis
Bowen's disease
Keratoacanthoma
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
Merkel cell carcinoma
Kaposi's sarcoma
Angiosarcoma
Cutaneous B cell lymphoma
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
Sebaceous gland carcinoma

Pathophysiology

Causes

Epidemiology & Demographics

Risk factors

Screening

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

## Overview

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Most skin cancers can be treated by removal of the lesion, making sure that the edges (margins) are free of the tumor cells. These excisions provide the best cure for both early and high-risk disease.

## Treatment

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For low-risk disease, radiation therapy and cryotherapy (freezing the cancer off) can provide adequate control of the disease; both, however, have lower overall cure rates than surgery.

Moh's Microsurgery is a technique used to remove the cancer with the least amount of surrounding tissue and the edges are checked immediately to see if tumor is found. This provides the opportunity to remove the least amount of tissue and provide the best cosmetically favorable results. This is especially important for areas where excess skin is limited, such as the face. Cure rates are equivalent to wide excision. Special training is required to perform this technique.

In the case of disease that has spread (metastasized) further surgical or chemotherapy may be required.[1]

## References

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1. ↑ Doherty, Gerard M.; Mulholland, Michael W. (2005). Greenfield's Surgery: Scientific Principles And Practice. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-5626-X.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)

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