Malignant Melanomas Flashcards
What are the RFs for malignant melanoma?
PH and FH of cutaneous melanomas
High density of common and atypical nevi
Immunodeficiency/immunosuppression
Sun sensitivity or exposure
What are the clinical presentations of malignant melanoma?
Questionable lesions
Possible signs of metastasis
What are the ABCDEs of nevi?
Asymmetry Border irregularity Color Diameter Enlargment/evolution
How are malignant melanomas diagnosed?
Review of patient history to identify RFs
Biopsy
Total dermatologic examination
Lymph node evaluation
May do additional imaging studies if metastasis suspected
How are malignant melanomas staged?
TNM
What factors affect the T in TNM system?
Tumor thickness
Mitotic rate: higher rate indicates cancer more likely to grow and spread
Ulceration: breakdown of skin over the melanoma. Worse prognosis with more ulceration
What is stage 0 melanoma?
Melanoma in situ
What is stage I melanoma?
Tumor < 1-2 mm in thickness
What is stage II melanoma?
Tumor > 2 mm in thickness
What is stage III melanoma?
Clinically positive nodes and/or separate distinct lesions
What is stage III in-transit ?
Spread through lymph and begins to grow > 2cm away from the primary but before reaching the nearest lymph node
What is stage IV melanoma?
Distant metastatic disease
What are the prognostic factors for melanoma?
Tumor thickness
Mitotic rate
Tumor ulceration
What are the treatment goals of localized melanoma?
Cure
What are the treatment goals of regional disease?
Possible a cure if able to do surgery +/- adjuvant chemo
What are the treatment goals of metastatic disease?
Slow progression
Prolong life
Improve QOL
Relieve acute sx
What is the primary treatment for stages 0-I?
Wide excision +/- sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNLB) with thicker disease