Solar radiation is one of the major causes of skin lesions, benign and malignant. Greece is a country with increased sunshine and solar radiation. The ozone hole, increased exposure to solar radiation due to a profession, or exposure to the sun in order to obtain a tanned skin combined with inadequate public awareness contributes to the increased incidence of malignant skin lesions in recent years.
Early diagnosis and treatment can relieve us of unpleasant problems. The most common lesions are basal cell epithelium (BCC), squamous cell epithelioma (SCC) and melanoma. Family predisposition, individual characteristics, exposure to solar radiation and chronic irritation are predisposing factors for the occurrence of these lesions.
Procedure
After detecting a suspected malfunction, it is scheduled to be removed by the Plastic Surgeon, who will ensure both the complete exclusion of the patient and the functional and aesthetic restoration of the deficiency. Then it is histologically examined to determine its nature. Basal cell epithelia (BCC) is the least aggressive of these lesions and most of the time its complete exclusion is synonymous with healing. The squamous cell epithelium (SCC) is in the lateral lymph nodes and closer monitoring is required by the treating physician. Finally, melanoma is a complicated disease with significant healing rates when early diagnosis and treatment is performed. Finally, it is decided whether additional treatment may be followed, which may be surgical (wider resection, lymphatic guard, lymphatic cleansing) or even non-surgical (immunotherapy, chemotherapy).
If the disease is not at an early stage, all the necessary examinations will be carried out, and in collaboration with the oncologist, the plan will be decided to deal with it. The patient is then monitored at regular intervals by the Plastic Surgeon and undergoes laboratory and imaging testing for both disease control and treatment, as well as prevention of relapses.