Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers of the Head and Neck

Abstract

In the preface to<i>Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers of the Head and Neck</i>, the authors state that 1 million nonmelanoma skin cancers are diagnosed and treated in the United States each year and that 2000 to 3000 of these patients die of their disease. They further state that "an aggressive subset exists that invades deeply, spreads along peripheral nerves, and may metastasize to regional lymph nodes." It is the recognition, evaluation, and treatment of this aggressive subset of tumors that represent the essence of this book. The majority of the authors of this book are head and neck surgeons who practice at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, and routinely manage many large and aggressive skin cancers. Only 2 of the 55 contributing authors are dermatologists. However, this book is important for dermatologists who treat large numbers of skin cancers, because it emphasizes the