Skin Cancer and Related Lesions-Skin Cancers of the Hand and Upper Extremity

Skin Cancers of the Hand and Upper Extremity

Pdf Summary

Skin cancers of the hand and upper extremity are common and typically present as painless lesions on areas of high sun exposure, such as the dorsum of the hand. The most common type of skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), followed by basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and melanoma. Early and accurate diagnosis is important for successful treatment. Biopsies for skin cancer can usually be performed under local anesthesia in the office setting. Treatment options include nonsurgical methods, but surgical excision is indicated when necessary. The appropriate margin for surgical excision is determined by the grade and stage of the malignancy. For SCC, high-risk features include rapid growth, size greater than 2 cm, depth greater than 2 mm, perineural invasion, and poor differentiation. Mohs surgery is preferred for high-risk SCC. For BCC, nonsurgical options include topical immunomodulators, cryotherapy, and photodynamic therapy. Surgical excision with wide margins is recommended for both high-risk and low-risk BCCs. Melanoma is an aggressive malignancy that can present as a pigmented lesion on any part of the body. Early detection and intervention are essential for prognosis and survival. Diagnosis and treatment of melanoma is based on staging criteria, including Breslow depth and presence of lymph node involvement. Treatment typically involves surgical excision with wide margins, along with additional therapies based on individual cases.

Keywords

skin cancers

hand

upper extremity

squamous cell carcinoma

basal cell carcinoma

melanoma

diagnosis

treatment

surgical excision

wide margins