The Less Common Skin Cancers

TOPICS IN DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY

The Less Common Skin Cancers

Jun
2002
Vol. 21. No. 2
Henry W Randle, MD, PhD

THERE ARE more than 1 million skin cancers diagnosed and treated in the United States each year. More than 30 different types of skin cancer have been described. Dermatologists are familiar with the common basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and malignant melanomas. The diagnosis and treatment of these have been described elsewhere. With the evolution of Mohs micrographic surgery and dermatologic surgery, dermatologists have emerged as the experts for the other skin cancers. Although some of these cancers may be encountered only 1 to 2 times per year or less often, dermatologists need to know how to proceed with the evaluation, selection of treatment, and surgical margins and when it is appropriate to refer these patients for excision of their tumors by complete margin control (Mohs micrographic surgery), wide excision, sentinel node biopsy, elective lymph node dissection, or radiation therapy or oncologic treatment (or both). The purpose of this chapter is to provide guidelines for managing the other skin cancers and to provide a heightened awareness of them.

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