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20: Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

DOI:

10.1891/9780826169099.0020

Authors

  • Winter, Ian W.
  • Woody, Neil M.
  • Koyfman, Shlomo A.

Abstract

Non-melanomatous skin cancer is the most common cancer. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represent the majority of cases. Vast majority of patients are classified as low risk and effectively treated with surgical excision or other focal therapy. Infrequently, lesions may act aggressively and require aggressive surgical resection with adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) or definitive RT. Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare primary neuroendocrine malignancy of skin that can be aggressive with rapid regional, in transit, marginal and distant recurrence. Skin is the largest organ in the body and composed of two primary layers: epidermis superficially and dermis, which contains superficial lymphatic plexus. Patients with prior diagnosis of BCC or SCC should be screened by dermatologist at regular intervals to detect new skin cancers. General treatment paradigm for early-stage low-risk SCC and BCC lesions is surgical excision or alternative focal therapy.