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DATE & VERSION: 26 August 2004, 11:431.35 |
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NATIONAL GUIDELINE |
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DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD: Hutt Valley |
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Skin lesions in this document refer to skin cancers, pigmented lesions, non-healing ulcers and other individual skin lesions. |
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CLINICAL PROBLEM
(Clinical Determinants) |
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ACTIONS |
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LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS |
| PIGMENTED LESIONS |
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Clinically suspicious of malignancy |
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Excision biopsy (not incision), full thickness, margins 2mm or greater |
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Refer if beyond GP expertise 1-6 |
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Clinically not malignant |
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Monitor in 1º care |
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GP follow up |
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Seborrhoeic keratosis |
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Cryotherapy (or excision) only if symptomatic |
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Rarely justifies public specialist assistance; however, refer if beyond GP expertise 1-6 |
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| NON-PIGMENTED LESIONS |
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Lesion < 5mm |
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Excision biopsy |
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Refer if beyond GP expertise 1-6 |
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5mm or greater and clinically typical of SCC or BCC or keratoacanthoma |
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Excision, full thickness, margins 2mm or greater with careful follow-up to confirm recurrence does not occur |
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Excision margins: SCC=10mm; BCC=2-5mm.
Refer if beyond GP expertise 1-6 |
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Clinically suspicious of malignancy or Bowen's disease |
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Punch biopsy |
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Biopsy if safe. Refer if beyond GP expertise 1-6 |
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Solar keratosis |
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Monitor for development of SCC |
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GP follow-up |
| OR cryotherapy |
Remove by excision or cryotherapy |
| OR 5-FU if numerous |
Refer for 5-FU. Fax: Dermatology 570 9218; Plastics 570 9539 |
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| HISTOLOGY KNOWN |
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Melanoma |
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Discuss with or refer to Specialist |
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Discuss wider excision requirement and suitable f/u with Plastics Registrar – page through 5666 999
Proforma referral to Hutt Hospital Plastics Fax: 570 9539 |
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SCC - excised with margin 2mm or greater |
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Monitor in 1º care |
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Review at 3 and 6 months then annually. Look for other skin cancers |
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SCC - excised incompletely or with margin < 2mm |
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Complete adequate excision |
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Refer if beyond GP expertise 1-6 |
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SCC - with regional nodes |
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Specialist assistance |
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Proforma referral to Hutt Hospital Plastics Fax: 570 9539 |
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Bowen's disease |
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Complete excision or destruction (cautery, cryotherapy)OR 5-FU |
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Refer if beyond GP expertise 1-6 |
| Refer for 5-FU. Fax: Dermatology 570 9218; Plastics 570 9539 |
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BCC - completely excised |
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Monitor in 1º care |
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Look for other skin cancers. Check site periodically
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BCC - incompletely excised |
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Complete excision OR Destruction (curettage and cautery) |
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Refer if beyond GP expertise 1-6 Complete excision is preferred. Refer if beyond GP expertise. 1-6 Consider observation only if extremely frail |
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Local recurrence |
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Specialist assistance |
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Proforma referral to Hutt Hospital Plastics Fax: 570 9539 |
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Keratoacanthoma |
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Complete excision or destruction |
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Refer if beyond GP expertise 1-6 |
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| MISCELLANEOUS |
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Non-healing ulcers |
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If small, excision biopsy
If large, full thickness biopsy of the margin |
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Punch biopsy including part of margin if safe. Refer if beyond GP expertise. Kit available from Valley Diagnostics |
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Chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis ears |
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Treat conservatively if small OR Specialist assistance for excision |
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Seek specialist input if uncertain or large |
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Pyogenic granuloma |
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Excision or biopsy, cautery with care to destroy feeding blood vessel |
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Excise or cautery if safe. Refer if beyond GP expertise. 1-6 |
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Epidermoid cysts
- sebaceous cysts
- pilar (tricholemmal) cysts |
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Treat conservatively if asymptomatic
OR excise completely |
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Rarely justifies public specialist assistance |
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Dermatofibroma |
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Treat conservatively |
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If enlarging rapidly seek specialist input
(Lipoma: if enlarging rapidly seek advice or excise if safe.) 1-6 |
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Milia |
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Treat conservatively
OR (rarely) incise and express intact |
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Rarely justifies public specialist assistance |
