Melanoma

Question 1

What is melanoma?

Answer 1

Cancer due to uncontrolled melanocyte proliferation

Question 2

What are the clinical features of melanoma?

Answer 2

• Anywhere on the body
• may be itchy, painful, bleeding, have an overlying crust
• Amelanotic melanoma = have no pigment

Question 3

What are the features that should make you suspicious of melanoma?

Answer 3

*Asymmetry
*Borders (irregular)
*Colour (irregular)
*Diameter >6mm
*Evolving
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*Symptoms: bleeding, itching, pain etc.

Question 4

What are the different classifications for melanoma?

Answer 4

• Superficial: grows horizontally in epidermis, often on legs
• Lentigo maligna: grows horizontally, often on face
• Acral lentiginous: grows horizontally, found on palsm, soles and nails
• Nodular: grows vertically, deeper in skin, often on trunk

Question 5

What is the management of melanoma?

Answer 5

1. Excision biopsy

2. Immunotherapy

Question 6

What scoring tool is used to determine the prognosis of melanoma?

Answer 6

• Breslow Thickness

- thicker it is the lower the 5 year survival