CANCER PRECURSORS

A significant proportion of cutaneous malignancies arise from well-def ined precursor lesions that have often been present for many years. Th is provides an opportunity to reduce rates of skin cancer by recogniti on and treatment of these lesions. Precursors of keratinocytic maligna ncy, such as actinic keratoses and Bowen's disease, are extremely comm on in the older, white population and will frequently be encountered b y general ist physicians in the context of examinations for noncutaneo us conditions, Less common conditions, such as erythroplasia of Queyra t and nevus sebaceous, are associated with a higher risk of malignant change, and their recognition is therefore imperative, The management of the various precursors of melanoma remains controversial, as the ex act risk of malignant transformation of many of these lesions is still unclear. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.