ABSTRACT
The basal cell carcinoma (BCC) typically presents as a raised lesion with a central ulcer and a rolled edge to the ulcer crater. Often such lesions will repeatedly crust and scab, and the underlying ulcer will be revealed on lifting the surface crust. Squamous carcinomas present as ulcerating lesions and usually enlarge more rapidly than BCCs. Malignant melanoma is a pigmented tumour (with the exception of the rare amelanotic variant, which will not be discussed further). The two classical types are the nodular variant presenting as a raised, black lesion, and the superficial spreading type, a flatter, brown or black lesion which, as its name implies, extends superficially without forming an elevated nodule.
