Recognising skin cancers in the dental patient

A selection of abstracts of clinically relevant papers from other journals. The abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by John R. Radford.

Abstract

'...the incidence of all forms of facial skin cancers is at least 20 times that of oral squamous cell carcinoma.'

Main

Newlands C. Fac Dent J 2012; 3: 158–165

Dentists are competent at carrying out opportunistic screening for oral cancer although an expert panel has questioned its efficacy (J Am Dent Assoc 2010; 141: 509–520). Nevertheless, dentists may not be comfortable to carry out screening for facial skin cancers. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma are slow growing and can have the appearance of a wart. Nevertheless 5% can metastasise. Some basal cell carcinomas can have a similarly innocent appearance, for example that of a scar. The 'ugly duckling mole' (an appearance different from the patient's other moles), must raise a suspicion of malignant melanoma. The ABCDE rule (asymmetry, border irregularity, colour variegation, diameter >6 mm, elevation/enlarging) should be applied. If a facial lesion gives rise to suspicion, the patient should be seen by a specialist within two weeks. This informative paper is illustrated with superb clinical photographs.