Skin cancer, or skin malignancy, is named differently depending on the origin of the tumor cells, including epidermis, skin appendages, skin soft tissue, peripheral nerves, melanocytes, skin lymphoreticular tissue, and hematopoietic tissue. There is also a part of metastatic tumors that occur in other tissues that metastasize to the skin. Clinically, they are divided into two categories: benign and malignant. Those that are prone to evolve into malignant are called pre-cancerous dermatoses.
Diagnosis of skin tumors
Diagnosis can be confirmed based on clinical features and pathological examination.
The therapeutic effect of skin malignant tumor is closely related to its early diagnosis, and highly suspicious early signs of malignant lesions should be noted.
1. skin ulcers that are persistent, intermittent or have a small amount of bleeding.
2, where solar keratoses show symptoms such as bleeding, ulceration or asymmetrical nodular protrusions.
3, where skin or old sores irradiated by past rays, where ulcers or nodular protrusions appear at the sinus tract.
4.When red skin scar that does not fade for a long time and shows mild erosion on it is alerted to the possibility of carcinoma in situ.
Treatment and prognosis of skin tumor
Skin malignant tumor is superficial and has more treatment methods, such as surgical excision, radiotherapy, cryotherapy, laser therapy, local drug physical corrosion therapy and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is an adjuvant treatment and late palliative treatment applied in combination with other treatments. It can be applied according to the site and size of the cancer tumor, the patient’s general condition, and the extent of the cancer tumor. The principle of treatment is to remove the tumor, maximize the preservation of function and reduce the external damage.
1.Surgical treatment
It is applicable to all stages of skin cancer, and the tumor can be completely removed by surgery.
2.Lymph node dissection
Selective regional lymph node dissection after surgical resection of squamous carcinoma is difficult to decide. Preventive lymph node dissection is not the most necessary choice, but the best decision should be made according to the patient’s age, the site of cancer, the degree of infiltration and the degree of differentiation of cancer cells.
3.Radiation therapy
Skin malignant tumors, especially basal cell carcinoma, are very sensitive to radiation and moderately sensitive to squamous carcinoma. This method is also applicable to the site with or may have lymphatic metastasis, as an adjuvant treatment before and after surgery.
4.Chemotherapy
It is used as a systemic adjuvant therapy for the treatment of skin malignancies. When surgery and radiotherapy are contraindicated or unavailable, 5-fluorouracil, Imiquimod, etc. can be used for low-risk, superficial basal cell carcinoma and low-risk squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen’s disease).
5.Physical therapy
It is the application of electrocoagulation, electrocautery, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy or laser to cauterize the cancerous tumor to make it necrotic and fall off or vaporize.
6.Corrosion therapy
Applying effective concentrated chemical drugs with strong corrosiveness as local cautery or coating.