Definition Spinalioma
A spinalioma is a malignant degeneration of the cells on the skin surface with uncontrolled proliferation that requires immediate treatment. The Spinaliom belongs with the Basaliom to the most common and most frequent malignant skin diseases in Germany. The spinalioma is also known as white skin cancer and is thus distinguished from melanoma, the black skin cancer.
The spinalioma originates from the uppermost skin layer, also known as the prickle cell layer (stratum spinosum). The tumor does not spread in depth but in width and is therefore also called a horizontally growing tumor. In some exceptional cases, however, deep growth can still occur, in which soft tissue under the skin and even bones can be affected by the tumor.
A metastasis of the spinalioma rarely occurs and if it does, it is in a very advanced state. The main cause of its development is chronic exposure to the sun on unprotected skin. For this reason, the disease usually affects areas of the skin that are not covered by clothing, i.e. the face, forehead and arms. Furthermore, spinaliomas can develop from a chronic wound or scar. For this reason, abnormalities in the vicinity of scars or wounds should definitely be examined dermatologically.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is usually made by the eye diagnosis of the dermatologist. However, since skin tumors can show different appearance and behavior, some further examinations must be performed to make the final diagnosis. Especially important is the question of the speed of growth.
While a tumor that grows slowly, its months or years, is more likely to be benign, a skin tumor that develops within a few days or weeks may indicate a spinalioma. However, before the final diagnosis can be made, a histological examination must be performed. For this purpose, the suspicious area in the skin is removed and examined under the microscope. Only here can the diagnosis be finally made.
The therapy of a spinalioma
There are numerous treatment approaches, but they must be evaluated differently for the treatment of a spinalioma. An attempt can be made to destroy the suspect skin area by means of icing. However, this so-called cryotherapy has the disadvantage that biopsies can no longer be obtained because the defective skin has been almost completely destroyed.
Radiotherapy, which is carried out using X-rays, can also destroy the skin tumor. Here, too, the problem of missing biopsy collection arises. This is one of the main reasons why complete surgical removal is still the most common procedure today.
This has the advantages that skin samples can be examined in the laboratory and that it can be checked whether the diseased skin areas have been completely removed. If the microscopic image shows healthy skin areas in addition to diseased skin areas, one knows that the tumor has been completely removed. In addition to the classic surgical procedures for the removal of skin areas, laser cutting techniques have also been available for several years. The results are comparably good.
