Skin Cancer: Melanoma Staging

Question 1

How do we stage melanomas?

Answer 1

1) Depth of melanocyte

2) Ulceration at the surface

Question 2

What type of skin cancer forms in the eye?

Answer 2

Ocular melanoma

Question 3

Which eye skin cancer is most common?

Answer 3

Uveal is more comman than intraocular

Question 4

How does uveal melanoma present?

Answer 4

With discoloration of the iris

Question 5

Which researcher discovered a protein (BAP1) that distinguishes Group A and B uveal melanomas?

Answer 5

Bill Harbour

Question 6

What is the difference between group A and B uveal melanomas?

Answer 6

Mutated protein (BAP1) in Group B

Question 7

What percentage of uveal cancers are group A?

Answer 7

60%

Question 8

What percentage of uveal melanomas are group B?

Answer 8

40?

Question 9

What is the mortality rate of group B?

Answer 9

80% die < 5 years

Question 10

What is the mortality rate of group A?

Answer 10

<10% in 5 years

Question 11

True or false: The eye must be removed for folks with group A uveal melanoma.

Answer 11

False

Question 12

True or false: The eye must be removed for folks with Group B uveal melanoma.

Answer 12

True; it must be treated aggressively

Question 13

What strategy do melanocytes deploy for getting nutrients when they are highly proliferative and invasive?

Answer 13

Vascular mimicry

Question 14

What are the characteristics of stage I melanoma?

Answer 14

Smallest visible tumor that has not gone far into the dermal layer; no lymph node involvement; no metastasis.

Question 15

What is the cure rate of stage I melanoma?

Answer 15

95%

Question 16

What are the characteristics of stage 4 melanoma?

Answer 16

Metastasized to lymph nodes and organs.