Skin cancers of scalp, face and neck

Skin cancers of scalp, face and neck

Cancer can develop in the skin of head and neck region. These commonly happen due to exposure to sunlight in light skinned individuals. Common skin cancers can be basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell cancer, melanoma etc.

Signs and Symptoms:

Any new mole which has been increasing in size

Any lump or swelling over the skin

Any non-healing ulcer, which may be increasing in size

Risk factors:

Light skin colour

Red haired person

Intense sun-exposure

Investigations

Biospy from the lesion

FNAC from node

Ultrasound or CT/MRI scan

PET in select cases

Treatment

Such lesions need to be excised or removed with margins all around. Lymph nodes may need to be addressed in select cases. Depending on how big defect is created, we may need to reconstruct accordingly.