Malignant Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors of Hand and Upper Limb-Cutaneous Malignancies of the Upper Extremity

Cutaneous Malignancies of the Upper Extremity

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This article reviews the diagnosis and treatment of the most common cutaneous malignancies of the upper extremity, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. Cutaneous malignancies are the most common primary malignancies of the hand, and the hand surgeon may be the first physician to see these patients due to their expertise in this anatomical region. The evaluation of cutaneous lesions should document the history of the lesion and assess risk factors for skin cancers. Treatment of cutaneous malignancies involves surgical excision, with the goal of complete excision while maintaining the narrowest margin possible to maximize function and appearance. Surgical margins for different types of skin cancers are discussed, and the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy is recommended for certain cases. Risk factors and characteristics of each type of cutaneous malignancy are described, including the different types of basal cell carcinoma, the aggressive nature of squamous cell carcinoma, and the high mortality rate of malignant melanoma. Special considerations for cutaneous malignancies of the digits and subungual lesions are also discussed. Overall, it is important for hand surgeons to have a low threshold for biopsy and to properly assess and treat cutaneous malignancies in order to minimize recurrence and optimize patient outcomes.

Keywords

cutaneous malignancies

upper extremity

basal cell carcinoma

squamous cell carcinoma

malignant melanoma

hand surgeon

surgical excision

surgical margins

sentinel lymph node biopsy

patient outcomes