The study, published online by JAMA Dermatology on July 23,
2014, found that nearly 36.9% of skin cancer lesions are accompanied by
itching, while 28.2% involve pain.
Nonmelanoma skin cancers—specifically, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma—are more likely than melanoma to involve itch or pain, the study found.
"The study highlights the importance of a simple bedside evaluation for the presence and intensity of pain or itch as an easily implementable tool for clinicians in evaluating suspicious skin lesions," concluded the study.
Yosipovitch, MD, director of the Temple Itch Center, said the findings are important because skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.
More than 3.5 million nonmelanoma skin cancers are diagnosed in two million people annually in this country.
"Patients sometimes have multiple lesions that are suspicious looking, and those that are itchy or painful should raise high concerns for non-melanoma skin cancers," Yosipovitch said.
The study involved 268 patients who had 339 laboratory-confirmed skin cancer lesions at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center from July 2010 to March 2011.
After undergoing a skin biopsy, the patients were asked to complete a numerical ranking scale to quantify the intensity of itch and pain associated with their skin lesion.
The scale, called a visual analog scale, or VAS, went from zero (no sensation) to 10 (the most intense sensation imaginable).
When the researchers compared the patients' responses to their biopsy results, they found that:
Nonmelanoma skin cancers—specifically, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma—are more likely than melanoma to involve itch or pain, the study found.
"The study highlights the importance of a simple bedside evaluation for the presence and intensity of pain or itch as an easily implementable tool for clinicians in evaluating suspicious skin lesions," concluded the study.
Yosipovitch, MD, director of the Temple Itch Center, said the findings are important because skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.
More than 3.5 million nonmelanoma skin cancers are diagnosed in two million people annually in this country.
"Patients sometimes have multiple lesions that are suspicious looking, and those that are itchy or painful should raise high concerns for non-melanoma skin cancers," Yosipovitch said.
The study involved 268 patients who had 339 laboratory-confirmed skin cancer lesions at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center from July 2010 to March 2011.
After undergoing a skin biopsy, the patients were asked to complete a numerical ranking scale to quantify the intensity of itch and pain associated with their skin lesion.
The scale, called a visual analog scale, or VAS, went from zero (no sensation) to 10 (the most intense sensation imaginable).
When the researchers compared the patients' responses to their biopsy results, they found that:
- The prevalence of itch was greatest in squamous cell carcinoma—46.6%, followed by basal cell carcinoma—31.9%, and melanoma—14.8%;
- Pain prevalence was greatest in squamous cell carcinoma—42.5%, followed by basal cell carcinoma—19.9%, and melanoma—3.7 percent; continue reading
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