(return to index)
Skin
Some benign skin tumours such as a nevus (the common "mole") or a seborrheic keratosis may be aesthetically undesirable, or uncomfortable because they are in areas subject to trauma (and haemorrhage), as is the case with some moles in the area of the bra, pants or underwear, or in a man's beard. All these cases may benefit from the removal of the benign tumour.
The most common cutaneous malignant tumours are basal cell carcinoma (basalioma), followed by squamous cell carcinoma and finally melanoma. We all know of the high mortality rate that a melanoma represents, so timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial.
The melanoma alarm signals follow the mnemonic ABCDE:
- A - asymmetry (in shape)
- B - poorly defined edges
- C - colouring (varied, rather than uniform)
- D - diameter (diameter greater than 6 mm)
- E - rapid evolution in time or accelerated growth of a spot that previously seemed stable.
Surgical excision is usually the recommended treatment, and the closure of the skin often depends on several techniques specific to Plastic Surgery. As the range of possible scenarios is immense, the discussion of the specific case can only be made during consultation.
