title: [Pre-malignant and malignant lesions in minor surgery at a health centre. Appearances can't be trusted].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the characteristics of the malignant and pre-malignant lesions found in the minor surgical interventions performed at a health centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  682 lesions: all the lesions extirpated and referred to pathology except for epidermal and trichilemmal cysts, lipomas, molluscum, common warts, and nails.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rochapea Health Centre, Pamplona.Main measurements. We analysed the anatomical-pathological results and the distribution by sex, age-group, location, technique and edges affected in 27 dysplasias and 11 malignant lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that malignant and pre-malignant lesions were more common in women, aged 15 to 44 for dysplasias and 45-64 for malignant lesions. The most common location was on the back; the most frequent technique, fusiform excision. This technique had the highest percentage of edges without lesion in dysplasias. The lesions whose edges were affected corresponded to punch and circular excision samples. None of the malignant lesions had their edges affected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most malignant lesions are not suspected. They appear in samples referred with a diagnosis of benign. Employment of techniques such as fusiform excision in lesions which are potentially malign, even though in principle they seem benign, enables them to be extirpated with free edges.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud de Rochapea. Pamplona. Navarra. España.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González Anguren
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osés Primo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molinero Pinilla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parra Osés
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de la Red Arroyo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013511:Minor Surgical Procedures; D009506:Nevus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*