Melanoma
January 2nd, 2008It is now the most common acute skin malignancy, and it is the deadliest. Melanoma occurs in fair-skinned adults, and is usually associated with a history of acute sun damage. Because melanoma is a cancer it has the tendency to metastasize, meaning it can move to different parts of the body. Unfortunately incidence of melanoma has been increasing exponentially during the past few decades, with the lifetime odds of a Caucasian person in the US developing one of these lesions at less than 1 in 100.
Clinical features: Everyone should know the ABCD’s of melanoma:
A = asymmetry
B = border irregularity
C = color variation
D = diameter greater than 6 mm (the width of the eraser on the end of a pencil)
This type of cancer tends to occur on the back in men and on the legs and trunk in women. Occasionally they can be seen on the facial skin, and lips. (use chopstick with SPF 15 or above).
Treatment: surgical excision
Prognosis: depends directly on the depth of invasion.The overall death rate from melanoma has been decreasing, despite the increase in its incidence. American Cancer Society’s public education program urges people to seek care if they notice an unusual change in a mole. As a result, more melanomas are being detected at an earlier stage, and the chances for a cure are greatly increased.
sources: Essentials of Pathology for Dentistry. R. F. T McMahon P. Sloan. Dr. Kalmar DDS. Pathology 240.