Surgica; Management of Skin Cancers of the Head and Neck
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2025-05-07
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Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Operative Surgery
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
Skin cancer is the most common cancer among Caucasians. The most common histological types are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma. Head and Neck Surgery (HNS) has its role in the treatment of advanced cases of the most frequent types and in the treatment of rare tumors. The incidence of BCC is the highest of all malignant tumors. However, it is difficult to quantify, as notification is not mandatory in most countries. It is estimated to have an incidence between 500 and 1000 cases / 100,000 inhabitants, i.e. at least 100 times higher than the incidence of oral cancer in the United States. There are several treatment modalities with cure rates of the order of 95%. Eighty percent of BCCs are of the head and neck. Curettage, cryotherapy, electrocoagulation, photodynamic therapy and topical chemotherapy can be performed with high success rates, especially in early cases. The most commonly used treatment is conventional surgical excision.
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Reference:
Bandiera de Oliveira Santos, A. & Roberto Cernea, C. 2025. Surgica; Management of Skin Cancers of the Head and Neck. In Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Operative Surgery. J. Fagan, Ed.Cape Town, South Africa: University of Cape Town. 12. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43540 .