The Skin

Abstract

The most frequently occurring malignancies of the skin are rodent ulcers (basal cell) and squamous cell carcinomata. It is interesting that a small percentage of these patients have a malignant growth of another organ. Less common is the melanoma. Carcinoma in situ, Bowen’s disease, is usually solitary but left untreated will develop into squamous carcinoma. Occasionally secondary infiltration of the skin may arise from carcinoma of the breast, bronchus, bladder, etc. As the skin is composed of various structures such as sweat and sebaceous glands, blood vessels, lymphatics, nerves, and connective tissue, malignant growth can occur in any of them but this is rare. Benign t’umours are warts, corns, and keratoacanthomata. The latter mimic malignant tumours but have a high rate of spontaneous regression. Two conditions which though benign are regarded as pre-malignant, are leukoplakia and senile keratosis.