The choice of treatment methods for common tumors on the surface of the body. Because they grow on the surface of the body, tumors on the surface of the body can affect the appearance of the human body to varying degrees, and malignant ones can also affect the life of a person, which should attract the attention of cosmetic surgeons. There are various tumors on the surface of the body, and there are a variety of treatment methods. This article focuses on the classification, treatment and selection of treatment methods for tumors that invade the epidermis, dermis or the whole skin layer.
Common tumors on the body surface
1.Benign tumors
(1) nevus nigricans can be roughly divided into three types: intradermal nevus, junctional nevus and mixed nevus. The latter two can undergo malignant transformation. The size of nevus varies from small ones like a needle tip to large ones that invade almost the whole body skin.
(2) Hemangioma can be divided into capillary hemangioma, cavernous hemangioma and trabecular hemangioma. The latter are often located in subcutaneous or even deeper tissues. The size of hemangiomas varies greatly, from small ones like a needle tip to large ones involving an entire limb or even a wider area.
(3) Neurofibromas are benign tumors that occur in the nerve trunks or terminals, with cutaneous manifestations such as milk-caffeinated spots and soft swellings.
(4) Warts are infectious benign skin tumors caused by viruses. It can be divided into common warts, flat warts, plantar warts and condyloma acuminata.
(5) Yellow tumors are commonly found on the skin and occasionally on the mucous membranes, usually as smooth or slightly elevated yellow patches. The most common is the yellow tumor of the eyelid.
2.Malignant tumors
(1) Skin cancer is also divided into basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
(2) Melanoma is a malignant tumor of the skin originating from normal melanocytes or original nevus cells of the epidermis, which is extremely malignant.
(3) Skin sarcoma is divided into liposarcoma, fibrosarcoma, smooth muscle sarcoma, etc.
Treatment methods
1.Surgical excision. Surgical excision of lesions. It is suitable for all benign and malignant tumors, especially for larger lesions that cannot be treated by other non-surgical treatments.
2.Cryotherapy. Commonly used freezing agents include liquid nitrogen, chloroethane, carbon dioxide snow (dry ice), hyperbaric oxygen freezer and so on. After freezing, the tumor blood vessels are embolized and the tumor degenerates and disappears. It is suitable for smaller freckles, dark pigmented nevi, capillary hemangioma, etc.
3.Laser treatment. Argon laser and carbon dioxide laser are commonly used. Use its coagulation and vaporization effect to treat lesions. Suitable for small freckles, nevi, capillary hemangioma, etc. In recent years, the emergence of photodynamic method also has good effect on large area capillary hemangioma.
4.Chemical peeling treatment. Chemicals are used to corrode the superficial layer of epidermis and dermis to make them fall off and heal naturally. Commonly used chemicals include carbolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, etc. It is used for the treatment of scattered freckles.
5.High frequency ionization treatment. High-frequency electrode needle is directly pierced into the tumor to destroy it by ionization. It is suitable for small freckles, nevus nigricans, capillary hemangioma, etc.
6.Radiotherapy. Including isotope phosphorus, isotope strontium, X-rays, radium, etc. Isotopes are used for the treatment of strawberry capillary hemangioma, and X-rays and radium rays are used for the treatment of malignant tumors such as skin cancer.
7.Injection therapy. Commonly used drugs include: 5% sodium cod liver oil, 33% sodium chloride, 50% glucose solution, 20% sodium salicylate, 50% quinineuratan, anhydrous alcohol, anti-cancer drugs, isotopes, hormones and antihemorrhoid spirit, etc. Injected into the tumor to cause thrombosis, hardening, atrophy and receding of the tumor, so as to achieve the treatment purpose. It is mainly used for the treatment of hemangioma.
8.Systemic drug treatment. Oral prednisone is used to treat hemangioma in infants and children. Subcutaneous or intravenous injection of interferon can also be used for the treatment of hemangioma.
9.Embolytic therapy. Intra-tumor or regional intravenous injection of autologous muscle mass, solid silicone balls, gelatin sponge particles, etc. are used to embolize the tumor. It is used for the treatment of hemangioma or applied as a preparatory measure before surgery.
10.Copper needle treatment. A sterilized copper needle is inserted into the tumor through the skin to release copper ions and cause blood coagulation. It is used for the treatment of cavernous hemangioma.
11.Grinding treatment. The epidermis and part of the dermis of the lesion area are abraded away with special grinding instruments to achieve the treatment purpose. It can be used for the treatment of freckles, etc.
12.Treatment of tattoo. The insoluble pigment is pierced into the dermis to catch the color of the surrounding skin.
13.Cosmetic application
Choice of treatment methods
1.Black pigmented nevus. Smaller ones can be treated with laser therapy, cryotherapy, high-frequency electric therapy, etc. However, these treatment methods have a high recurrence rate. Attention should be paid to the depth and breadth of treatment, and all the tumors should be completely removed at one time to avoid repeatedly stimulating the tumors. Larger nevi should be removed surgically, and the wound surface should be closed with sutures if it can be closed, and those who cannot be closed with sutures should be repaired by flap transfer and skin grafting.
2.Hemangioma. Smaller ones can be treated with laser therapy, cryotherapy, high-frequency electric therapy and so on. Slightly larger ones can be treated with radiotherapy, injection therapy, etc. Larger ones are still better to be treated by surgery. For infants and children, oral hormone therapy is available for those who are not suitable for surgery in special areas. Copper needle therapy can be used for spongiform hemangioma. Large area capillary hemangioma can be treated with photodynamic therapy.
3.Neurofibroma. Surgery is mainly used to treat the tumor itself. For café-au-lait spots, treatment such as grinding therapy and chemical peeling therapy can be tried.
4.Wart. Smaller ones can be treated with laser therapy, cryotherapy, high frequency electrotherapy and other non-surgical therapies. The larger ones are still better to be treated surgically.
5, yellow tumor. Surgery is the main treatment, but also can try chemical peeling therapy, cryotherapy, laser therapy, etc.
6.Skin cancer. Surgical excision is the main treatment. Non-surgical treatments such as freezing and laser therapy should be avoided.
7.Melanoma. Extensive surgical excision should be the main focus. Non-surgical therapy stimulation should be avoided as well.
8.Sarcoma of the skin. Again, extensive surgical excision should be the main focus. Non-surgical stimulation should also be avoided.
In conclusion, benign skin tumors that only invade the epidermis and dermis can be treated with appropriate non-surgical therapy; once the tumor reaches below the dermis, surgical therapy is appropriate; malignant tumors are mainly treated with surgical therapy. Non-surgical treatment for benign lesions of large area should be performed at intervals to avoid stimulation of all lesions by various physical or chemical factors at the same time, which may affect wound healing. All therapies have their indications and contraindications, and should be applied strictly to avoid unnecessary complications in order to achieve the best treatment effect.