Evaluation and initial management of the patient with facial skin cancer.

The incidence of skin cancer is on the rise, and facial plastic surgeons are frequently involved in its initial evaluation and management. This article seeks to delineate the important information to be obtained during the history and physical examination of a patient presenting for facial lesion evaluation. The biologic behavior and treatment options are summarized for the most commonly encountered skin cancers-basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.