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Non-melanoma Skin Cancer: Primary Non-surgical Therapies and Prevention Strategies

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Non-melanoma Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck

Part of the book series: Head and Neck Cancer Clinics ((HNCC))

Abstract

Patients with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) may be managed non-surgically on the basis of relevant tumour and patient factors. This chapter presents non-surgical treatment options for the two most common NMSCs—basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The management of Merkel cell carcinoma (often non-surgically) is discussed in Chap. 6. Excision, although considered the gold standard, is not always possible or considered the best option (Box 4.1). Numerous topical (e.g. 5-fluorouracil [5-FU], imiquimod) and intralesional (e.g. methotrexate, interferon) [1] options, as well as other modalities are widely available, often with ill-defined criteria for using them. Additionally, because the evidence to support these treatments is predominantly low-level with long-term follow-up (≤5 years) lacking, clinicians need to consider various issues before using any recommendation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK

    Malcolm A. Buchanan BSc, MBChB, PhD, FRCS

  2. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Brett Levin BMedSci, MBBS, MMedSci, FRACS

  3. Radiation Oncology, Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Michael Veness MBBS, MMed, MD, MD, FRANZCR

Authors
  1. Malcolm A. Buchanan BSc, MBChB, PhD, FRCS
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  2. Brett Levin BMedSci, MBBS, MMedSci, FRACS
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  3. Michael Veness MBBS, MMed, MD, MD, FRANZCR
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Malcolm A. Buchanan BSc, MBChB, PhD, FRCS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia

    Faruque Riffat

  2. Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Carsten E. Palme

  3. Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Michael Veness

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© 2015 Faruque Riffat, Carsten E. Palme, Michael Veness, Rehan Kazi, Raghav C. Dwivedi

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Buchanan, M.A., Levin, B., Veness, M. (2015). Non-melanoma Skin Cancer: Primary Non-surgical Therapies and Prevention Strategies. In: Riffat, F., Palme, C., Veness, M. (eds) Non-melanoma Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck. Head and Neck Cancer Clinics. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2497-6_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2497-6_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New Delhi

  • Print ISBN: 978-81-322-2496-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-2497-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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