Common Skin Lesions: A Quick Guide for the Office Setting with Case Reports
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Abstract
Skin lesions represent one of the most frequent reasons for consultation in clinical practice, particularly in primary care, where timely recognition and appropriate management directly influence patient outcomes. The wide spectrum of dermatologic presentations may pose a diagnostic challenge if not approached systematically. Four representative clinical cases of common office-based pathologies are presented: chronic atopic dermatitis, hyperkeratotic actinic keratosis, epidermoid cyst, and nodular basal cell carcinoma. For each case, key semiologic findings, differential diagnosis, and the most commonly used conservative and surgical therapeutic options are described. Through these cases, the importance of accurately identifying the primary lesion, evaluating risk factors such as sun exposure and comorbidities, and recognizing warning signs suggestive of premalignant or malignant lesions is emphasized. A systematic clinical approach improves physician problem-solving capacity, optimizes therapeutic decision-making, and promotes timely treatment. A practical method based on dermatologic semiology strengthens comprehensive care and contributes to safer and more efficient clinical practice.
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