Skin Cancer Algorithm - Differential Diagnoses of Brown Colored Lesions

alternative diagnoses to skin/yellow colored lesions	alternative diagnoses to reddish colored lesions

Melanoma

• amelanotic melanoma
• often red, vascular looking without pigment
• may have only small flecks of pigment

Dermatofibroma

• firm usually on legs and arms
• may be red or brown, occasionally black
• feels in the skin, not raised above the surface
• dimpling sign on squeezing from the sides

Mole

Seborrhoeic Keratosis

• mostly on the trunk
• well defined, brown, raised, look stuck on to the skin
• warty surface which is often soft
• sometimes smooth surface with keratotic plugs
• inflammation and crusting may occur after trauma

Pigmented Actinic Keratosis

• often multiple on fair skin with chronic sun exposure
• face, hands, scalp and legs of women
• often can be felt early on better than seen
• erythematous, rough adherent scale
• may be hyperkeratotic, atrophic, occasionally pigmented
• may be indistinguishable from SCC in situ

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