Bowen's Disease on the Hand

Bowen's disease is a malignant condition (technically, it is an intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma). Early lesions may resemble fungal infections, dermatitis, or psoriasis. The diagnosis is made by biopsy (examining a tissue sample).

Keratoacanthoma

Keratoacanthomas are rapidly growing, red (erythematous), dome shaped bumps (papules/nodules) with central craters. Occasionally, these will disappear spontaneously (involute). Often, they are treated to avoid further involvement or destruction of underlying tissue. They are of concern because of the similarity to squamous cell cancer.

Keratoacanthoma

Keratoacanthomas are rapidly growing, red (erythematous), dome shaped bumps (papules/nodules) with central craters. Occasionally, these will disappear spontaneously (involute). Often, they are treated to avoid further involvement or destruction of underlying tissue. They are of concern because of the similarity to squamous cell cancer.

Skin Cancer, Squamous Cell - Close-Up

Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the three most common types of skin cancer: basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma. Squamous cell cancers can metastasize (spread) and should be removed surgically as soon as they are diagnosed.

Skin Cancer, Squamous Cell on the Hands

This is a picture of squamous cell skin cancer on the hands. Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the three most common types of skin cancer: basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma. Squamous cell cancers can metastasize (spread) and should be removed surgically as soon as they are diagnosed.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma - Invasive

This irregular red nodule is an invasive squamous cell carcinoma (a form of skin cancer). Initial appearance, shown here, may be very similar to a noncancerous growth called a keratoacanthoma. Squamous cell cancers can metastasize (spread) and should be removed surgically as soon as they are diagnosed.

Cheilitis, Actinic

Actinic chelitis is caused by chronic and excessive exposure to the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. There is thickening whitish discoloration of the lip at the border of the lip and skin. There is also loss of the usually sharp demarcation between the red of the lip and the normal skin (vermilion border). This condition is considered premalignant and may lead to squamous cell skin cancer.

Squamous Cell Cancer

Squamous cell cancer involves cancerous changes to the cells of the middle portion of the epidermal skin layer. It is a malignant tumor, and is more aggressive than basal cell cancer, but still may be relatively slow-growing. It is more likely than basal cell cancer to spread (metastasize) to other locations, including internal organs. Treatment usually involves surgical removal of the tumor along with some surrounding tissue.