Journal of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine 1988;9(8):6-10.
Published online August 1, 1988.

피부암의 선별 (Screening for Skin Cancers)

국홍일(Hong Il Kook)

이화여자대학교의과대학 피부과학교실

Abstract

Today, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, and death rate increasing. So, screening is important to diagnose and treat early, because so that, can decrease death rate. Common skin cancers are basal cell ca, squamous cell ca and malignant melanoma, and the most of that is basal cell ca which is arised at epidermis and concerned with sun light, hereditary problem, history of exposure of arsenics, scar due to radiation and previous disease.
The second skin cancer is squamous cell ca, also concerned with sun light at two-third and that cancer has better prognosis than that due to other causes. It is appeared translucent asymptomatic nodules, increased site, formation of ulcer and crust. The best method of diagnosis is excisional biopsy.
Death rate of the third is 70%, recently is increasing abruptly and developed much more at man with white color skin. There are 3 types in malignant melanoma, superficial spreading, nodular, lentigo maligna melanoma and nodular melanoma at the time of diagnosis, invades deeply, so has poor prognosis.
Important risk factors of skin cancer are sun light, exposure of arsenics, history of radiation treatment, development of nodules ulcers, or bleeding on old skin lesion.
Conclusively, Dermatologist must observe carefully skin lesions with risk factors, educate sign and symptom of disease to patient. So must decrease death due to skin cancer and frequency rate.