Skin tumors are among the most common tumors in humans. They are divided into three groups:
- benign (non-dangerous),
- premalignant (potentially dangerous)
- malignant (dangerous) tumors.
Benign skin growths usually do not require surgical treatment. We agree with the patient for self-observation and check-ups. Surgical removal is necessary in case of mechanical irritation of the growth, unpleasant itching, pain or due to aesthetic requirements at the patient’s request. If a premalignant skin growth is suspected, it is surgically removed and the sample is sent for histological examination. The success of the treatment of malignant skin tumors depends on the early diagnosis of the tumor and the correct choice of treatment method.
Among malignant tumors, the most important are basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, which, if untreated, cause local tissue destruction. They occur especially in older people. The most dangerous malignant tumor of the skin is melanoma.
The most appropriate method is surgical excision of the tumor with a safety margin and histological examination of the tissue to assess the extent of the tumor and the success of removal. Depending on the size and location of the skin tumor, there are several methods of surgical treatment:
- excision and direct suture of the wound,
- excision and covering of the skin gap with a free skin graft,
- excision and covering of the skin gap with a local skin flap.
The operation is usually performed under local anesthesia. The surgeon first selects the direction and shape of the incision, the safety margin, completely removes the formation, stops the bleeding and sutures the wound in layers (subcutaneous and skin) so that the suture marks are barely noticeable (running skin suture), and the scar is thin in the plane of the skin. The sutures are removed five to fourteen days after the procedure, depending on the part of the body and the tension of the suture line. Later, we recommend a massage with an anti-scar ointment and appropriate protection from the sun’s rays.
Early diagnosis and timely treatment avoid major surgical procedures, which are associated with a worse prognosis, a higher risk of tumor recurrence, and a poorer aesthetic outcome.
Excision of a skin growth is one of the simplest surgical procedures. However, it is very important to first determine whether the skin growth is dangerous. Even small differences can make a difference.
Mistakes in recognition can be fatal. Sometimes the patient is confused, as different dermatosurgeons recommend a variety of methods of treating skin tumors: cryocautery, excochleation, superficial electrodessication, electrocoagulation, radiation, phototherapy, and the use of various ointments. A common disadvantage of treatment without surgical excision is that we do not have histological data on the skin tumor (what was removed) and, data on whether the formation was completely removed (edges and bottom – “to the good”). There is also often slower healing with a higher risk of skin infection and tumor recurrence.
