title: Cutaneous malignancy of the head and neck.
abstract: Most skin cancers of the head and neck are nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most frequent types of NMSCs. Treatment options including wide local excision, Mohs surgery, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and cervical lymphadenectomy and adjuvant radiation when warranted offer a high cure rate, while balancing excellent functional and cosmetic outcomes. Evaluation by a multidisciplinary team is highly recommended with advanced and aggressive lesions. Avoidance of sunburns and acute sun damage, sunscreen protection, and early identification and evaluation of suspicious lesions remain the first line of defense against skin cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Wojciech K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Mydlarz
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Randal S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: mekupfer@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kupferman
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC); Head and neck; Melanoma; Nonmelanoma skin cancer; Radiation therapy; Sentinel lymph node biopsy; Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC); Wide local excision (WLE)