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Ency. home > Disease > M > Malignant melanoma

Malignant melanoma    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Melanoma - malignant

Symptoms

ALL FORMS

  • skin lesion or growth
    • usually a papule (raised) or, less likely, a macule (flat)
    • color varying (brown, black, red or bluish)
    • mixture of colors in one lesion
    • irregular borders, often asymmetrical
    • a change in appearance over time in pigmented skin lesion
    • bleeding from a skin growth
  • ABCDs
    • Asymmetry: one half of the lesion is different than the other half
    • Borders: irregular borders
    • Color: varied from one area to another with shades of tan, brown or black and sometimes white, red, blue
    • Diameter: usually (but not always) larger than 6mm in size (diameter of a pencil eraser)
  • SUPERFICIAL SPREADING MELANOMA
    • possible ulceration and lack of healing
    • ABCDs
  • NODULAR MELANOMA
    • nodules, bumps
    • color usually ranges from dark black-blue to bluish-red
    • possible ulceration and lack of healing
  • ACRAL LENTIGINOUS MELANOMA
    • skin lesion or growth
      • dark color: usually tan, brown or black
      • usually on the palms, soles or under nails
      • possible ulceration and lack of healing
  • LENTIGO MALIGNA MELANOMA
    • skin lesion or growth
      • irregular borders
      • large
      • brownish color with darker speckles
      • usually on skin that has been overexposed to the sun

Signs and Tests

The appearance of the skin lesion may indicate malignant melanoma.

A skin biopsy and examination can confirm the diagnosis. An X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or other procedures may be indicated to determine if spreading (metastasis) has occurred.

Ency. home > Disease > M > Malignant melanoma

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