Skin cancer of the head and neck. How to recognize and treat it.

Skin cancer is the most common malignant tumor encountered in humans, with the head and neck being the most likely sites. The physician should be suspicious of malignant disease when evaluating any skin lesion, and a biopsy is easily performed on those that are questionable. The optimal method of treatment is surgical removal of the cancer in conjunction with histopathologic confirmation of the adequacy of excision. Reconstruction of the surgical defect is best performed by someone familiar with the use of local and regional skin flaps in the head and neck region.