An approach to pigmented skin lesions (Nurse)

This course focuses on the approach to pigmented skin lesions relating to skin cancer medicine. Participants will acquire the knowledge required to safely and confidently diagnose and treat commonly encountered skin lesions. It is the ideal starting point to build core knowledge in skin cancer management and acquire vital diagnostic skills and basic management techniques to provide effective care to patients.   

Unit one discusses common benign lesions including freckles, solar lentigo, seborrheic keratosis, haemangioma, dermatofibroma and blue nevi. Normal and dermoscopic clinical images are provided to demonstrate patterns and assists with analysis. Benign lesions can mimic skin cancers and careful examination is required to decide management steps. The signs of common benign lesions that may be skin cancer are discussed in detail. A medico-legal case is included for a patient where a melanoma was masquerading as a benign lesion.   

Unit two begins with the description of dermoscopy including examples of dermoscopic devices used for this technique. The 3-point checklist consists of asymmetry in colour or structures, atypical network and blue-white structures (white scar-like depigmentation or blue pepper-like, globular or structure-less areas), showing various clinical dermoscopic images of lesions.  

This unit covers dysplastic nevi and melanoma. A table is shown of the relationship between nevus, dysplastic nevus and melanoma and includes a table of relative risk factors for melanoma. Several types of melanomas and treatment options are listed and supported by clinical images. The unit concludes with key points for detecting benign or suspicious lesions.   

This course is evidence-based, demonstrates best practice and is regularly updated. 

Relevance to Nurses:

Skin cancer medicine is a core component of Australian general practice and is consistently in the top 10 conditions managed. This is not surprising as Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world, leaving melanoma the fourth most common cancer in Australia.

1. Categorise common skin cancers and related conditions.  
2. Evaluate the use of digital imaging for skin cancer medicine scenarios. 
3. Determine the use of dermoscopes to compare, contrast and differentiate lesions. 
4. Use the Three Point Checklist to distinguish between benign and suspicious skin lesions. 
5. Distinguish features of pigmented and non-pigmented skin lesions: actinic keratosis, Bowens disease, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma / KA, dysplastic naevi, DNS and melanoma.

All nurses.