Malignant Skin Lesions: Malignant Melanoma Flashcards
ugly duckling rule
A – Asymmetry: One half of the lesion does not mirror the other half.
B – Border: The borders are irregular or indistinct.
C – Color: The color is variegated; the pigment is not uniform, and there may be varying shades and/or hues.
D – Diameter: Classically, any pigmented lesion greater than 5-6 mm in diameter is concerning, although melanomas may also be smaller.
E – Evolving: Notable change in a lesion over time raises suspicion for malignancy. Ulceration and bleeding should prompt biopsy.
While most melanomas are pigmented, some may appear to lack or contain little pigment and are referred to as ____.
Most melanomas appear to arise de novo, although about 30% may be associated with a ____.
While most melanomas are pigmented, some may appear to lack or contain little pigment and are referred to as amelanotic.
Most melanomas appear to arise de novo, although about 30% may be associated with a nevus.
A dark brown to bluish-black nodule that grows rapidly. This type of melanoma is most likely to ulcerate or bleed. Found commonly on the trunk, head, and neck.
nodular melanoma
melanomas have both a ____ and a ____ growth phase
melanomas have both a radial and a vertical growth phase
Hutchinson’s nail sign is pigment in the skin surrounding the nail and is suggestive of
acral lentiginous melanoma
____ _____ ___ Melanoma is an asymmetric brown to black macule or patch with color variegation and irregular borders. It is essentially a slow growing SSMM (superficial spreading melanoma) on the face of an elderly person with a light skin phototype.
May have area(s) of dermal induration or nodularity.
Lentigo Maligna Malignant Melanoma is an asymmetric brown to black macule or patch with color variegation and irregular borders. It is essentially a slow growing SSMM on the face of an elderly person with a light skin phototype.
May have area(s) of dermal induration or nodularity.
why does nodular melanoma have a poorer prognosis than SSMM?
Melanomas in general have both a radial and a vertical growth phase. Superficial Spreading Melanoma has a longer radial growth phase, so it can be 2 cm wide but only 06mm deep.
Therefore, nodular melanoma has a poorer prognosis than SSMM: They have a greater depth at time of diagnosis.
general treatment for MM
surgery. Mohs surgery with margin width depending on size of MM to begin with.
nodular melanoma
superficial spreading MM
what process is going on here?
Regression is a result of the body’s immune defences. Clinically we see areas of regression of the pigment within the lesion of MM.
lentigo maligna MM. asymmetric brown-black macule or patch with color variation and irregular borders. slow growing SSMM thats more smooth and usually on an elderly person.
acral lentiginous MM
