title: Rapidly enlarging skin lesion on the lip.
abstract: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant tumour arising from the keratinising cells of the epidermis. It is slow growing, locally invasive and has the potential to metastasise to other organs of the body. We report an unusual presentation of a rapidly enlarging, well-differentiated SCC on the upper lip of a 75-year-old woman. Rapidly enlarging skin lesions in specialised areas pose great challenges in its management. As the lesions increase in size, they eliminate first-line reconstructive options that can compromise functional and aesthetic outcomes. Accurate histological diagnosis prior to surgery is paramount, as it bears significance to the excision margins. Early, urgent referral to a specialist unit is essential and may avoid the need for more invasive procedures and associated morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Plymouth, UK. pvermaak@nhs.net
authors.forename: Pieter V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Vermaak
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manushakian
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome