Removal of benign skin lesions
All kinds of nevus, moles and other skin lesions are an integral part of the human body. Many of them are completely harmless, but some skin lesions may turn out to be benign cancers. In most cases, benign varieties of cancer pose no threat to the Patient’s health. The decision to remove them is usually based on aesthetic or practical reasons – some lesions may be so large that they interfere with our daily life by attaching to jewellery or clothing, for example. Other benign tumours, if they grow quickly, may begin to press on surrounding tissues.
Types of benign skin cancers
Every skin lesion, even seemingly benign ones, should be examined by a dermatologist because some benign cancers can turn malignant. Skin cancers are divided into benign and malignant. Benign cancers are characterised by the fact that they do not metastasize and are similar to the tissue from which they originate. The most common benign skin cancers include:
Desmoid tumours are made of fibrous tissue and take on a spherical or sac-like shape and a red or brown colour. Desmoid tumours reach about a centimetre in diameter and appear most often on the lower extremities, but also on the trunk, face and buttocks.
Fibroma molluscum are proliferative lesions of connective tissue. They take the form of soft flabby sac-like nodules. They can range in size from 2 millimetres to as much as 5 centimetres and are usually skin-colored. They often appear in problem areas such as the neck, armpits or groin, so they are vulnerable and can cause discomfort.
Sebaceous cysts are also known as epidermal cysts. Sebaceous cyst takes the form of a cyst that contains liquid or semi-liquid material. It is a convex and hard nodule, yellow or flesh-colored, that can grow up to 5 centimetres in size. They most often develop on the face, neck, or scalp, but they can also appear on the external genitalia.
Lipomas are soft cancerous tumours located under the skin. They usually occur on the back, shoulders, neck, forearms, trunk, and thighs. Lipoma is the most common benign soft tissue tumour in adults.
Hemangiomas are benign tumours that arise within blood vessels. They most often appear on the face, neck, head and back. A hemangioma takes the form of small, red or pink spots that may form larger clusters if located close together. Cherry angioma is the most common type of angioma.
Diagnostics
To effectively diagnose the type of skin lesion, the dermatologist takes a detailed history with the Patient. Then looks at the lesion and performs a palpation examination. If necessary, the specialist recommends a dermatoscopy or a videodermatoscopy. In our clinic we use an advanced FotoFinder videodermatoscopy, which allows a very detailed examination of the lesion. In some cases the physician may recommend a biopsy.
Treatment methods
If the examined skin lesion turned out to be a benign tumour, further management strategy should be developed. If the lesion has no features of malignancy, is completely painless, does not bother the Patient and does not cause aesthetic defects, the physician and the Patient may decide to leave the lesion. However, it is related to the fact that the Patient should constantly observe and control the lesion, as well as take regular dermatological consultations. Very often Patients decide to remove the tumour – this is because the change is unsightly, especially if it is located in a visible place or can cause discomfort. Therapy is selected individually to the Patient's needs and situation. Treatments are performed by experienced physicians who specialise in particular forms of skin cancer therapy. We guarantee comprehensive treatment and care during the recovery period. Our Patients appreciate the choice between surgical removal of the lesion and laser therapy.
Surgical removal
Surgical excision is one of the primary techniques for treating benign tumours because it allows for complete removal of the lesion. In our Clinic, we offer the following methods of surgical removal of skin cancer:
- Surgical excision
- CO2 laser removal
Course of the surgical procedure
In Zakrzewscy Clinic we remove benign tumours using different techniques, but they all proceed in virtually the same way. The procedure is short and safe. At the beginning, the Patient receives local anaesthesia, which makes the treated skin insensible. Then an experienced surgeon removes the lesion according to the previously selected optimal method. In case of excision with skin grafting, the surgeon takes the tissue from the pre-selected area and thus closes the resulting wound by sewing a piece of skin into it. If curettage with cauterization is used, the physician exposes the wound to a heat source. After the procedure, stitches and a dressing are placed on the wound. The excised material is subjected to histopathological examination.
Indications after surgery
Your physician will tell you how to properly care for your wound. After surgery, you should not take off the dressing for about 2 days, unless otherwise directed by a physician. You will be scheduled for suture removal after 4-14 days, depending on the surgeon’s instructions. This is also when the follow-up visit takes place, during which the histopathological examination results of the lesion are discussed. During the stay at the Clinic, as well as after the surgery, the Patient can count on comprehensive care. What is important, immediately after the removal of the lesion the Patient can return to daily activities.
Laser therapy
Laser therapy with the use of Alma Pixel CO2 ablative laser is an equally effective method of removing benign skin tumours. A great advantage of laser therapy is the fact that it is a fast, precise and safe method. One of the most technically advanced scanners on the market allows full control of laser working time, treatment area and power intensity, optimising therapy effectiveness and giving full control of the outcome. Laser therapy is most commonly used for lesions that are located on the top layer of the skin.
Course of laser therapy
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia by an experienced dermatologist or surgeon. Depending on the pain threshold, the Patient may or may not need local anaesthesia – during the procedure you will feel warmth and a slight burning sensation. During the procedure the physician removes the lesion by directing the laser beam at it and causing it to evaporate. High temperature and non-contact ensure high sterility and safety of laser therapy. This procedure does not take long and neither does the healing time. In the course of treatment the lesions evaporate and the healthy skin remains intact. The treatment site is covered with a scab. Healing occurs through granulation, which means that the destroyed cells are gradually replaced by newly formed ones. An additional advantage of using ablation laser is the fact that there is no scar at the site of lesion removal and the Patient does not feel any pain after the treatment.
Indications after laser therapy
Small wounds may appear after the procedure, which will turn into scabs. The wounds can be gently washed with water and, if recommended by your surgeon, a permeable dressing applied. The healing process takes from a few days to 4 weeks. During this time, the Patient should avoid sun exposure to the wound. Immediately after removal of the lesion, the Patient can return to daily activities.
Surgical excision of a tumour. Information sheet.
This information may be useful to you before you begin skin cancer treatment.
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