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Evaluation, Staging and Prognostication

  • Chapter
Non-melanoma Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck

Part of the book series: Head and Neck Cancer Clinics ((HNCC))

Abstract

The majority of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), particularly those encountered in primary care settings, will be identified and are easily amenable to local therapy. The most common types of NMSC are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and rarer tumours, including Merkel cell cancer (MCC) and sarcoma. Metastatic SCC is a rare entity (<5 % of cases); metastatic BCC even more so [1]. However, it is important to identify high-risk patients because of the significant morbidity and mortality experienced by this subgroup of patients. Optimal management of these patients requires multidisciplinary input. Considerable research has been conducted into early identification of such high-risk patients. The initial approach involves a thorough clinical assessment, including detailed history and evaluation of any relevant systemic disease, risk factors and comorbidities, followed by histological analysis. Advanced lesions will require more detailed investigations, including cross-sectional imaging in the form of computed tomography (CT) and or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The investigation should not only focus on the primary lesion but also on any potential regional and distant metastatic disease. One approach to the initial assessment of NMSC is shown in Fig. 3.1.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Westmead Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Zubair Hasan MBBS, MIPH, MS

  2. Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Carsten Palme MBBS, FRACS

  3. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Faruque Riffat BSc, MBBS, FRACS

Authors
  1. Zubair Hasan MBBS, MIPH, MS
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  2. Carsten Palme MBBS, FRACS
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  3. Faruque Riffat BSc, MBBS, FRACS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Faruque Riffat BSc, MBBS, FRACS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia

    Faruque Riffat

  2. Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Carsten E. Palme

  3. Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Michael Veness

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© 2015 Faruque Riffat, Carsten E. Palme, Michael Veness, Rehan Kazi, Raghav C. Dwivedi

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Hasan, Z., Palme, C., Riffat, F. (2015). Evaluation, Staging and Prognostication. In: Riffat, F., Palme, C., Veness, M. (eds) Non-melanoma Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck. Head and Neck Cancer Clinics. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2497-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2497-6_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New Delhi

  • Print ISBN: 978-81-322-2496-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-2497-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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