Skin cancer: recognition and management

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in humans and accounts for one third of newly diagnosed cancers--it will be diagnosed in approximately 1 in 5 Americans in their lifetime and > 1 million cases are diagnosed each year. Skin cancer can cause local tissue destruction, disfigurement, and even death if left untreated; therefore, timely recognition, treatment, and appropriate referral are critical to reducing morbidity. As the incidence of skin cancer rises each year, the primary care physician needs to be familiar with the clinical presentation, treatment options, and means of prevention of the most common skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma.