Human skin may develop besides basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, other malignant skin tumours. Some of them are categorized as premalignant lesions and some other as malignant. These skin tumours are diagnosed by the plastic surgeon or the dermatologist and they decide on treatment. Excision of these lesions is usually necessary and in some cases the diagnosis is concluded only when the pathology report is finalized.
Surgical excision is done under local anaesthetic on an outpatient basis and the lesion is sent for pathology examination. In case the cancer is extended and the excision of skin and subcutaneous tissue required is large, the plastic surgeon may use a variety of surgical flaps, cleverly designed on the nearby healthy areas, to achieve closure of the problematic skin region.
