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Malignant melanoma skin cancer Stages & prognosis

Malignant melanoma is an most serious form of skin cancer as metastasis can occur early & it causes a number of deaths even in young people. As with other Kinds of skin cancer an incidence is continuing For increase, probably because of excessive exposure For sunlight. an history of childhood sun exposure & intermittent sun exposure appears For be particularly important in an development of malignant melanoma.

Other risk factors include atypical mole syndrome, giant congenital melanocytic naevi, lentigo maligna & a positive family history of malignant melanoma. Malignant melanoma is commoner in later life Although many young adults are also affected.

Diagnosis of melanoma is not always easy Although an clinical signs help distinguish malignant from benign moles. Examination with epiluminescence microscopy can further help in detecting malignant lesions.

Four clinical Kinds of Malignant melanoma exist:

Lentigo maligna melanoma is where a patch of lentigo maligna develops a papule or nodule signalling invasive tumour.
Superficial spreading malignant melanoma is a large flat irregularly pigmented lesion which grows laterally before vertical invasion develops.
Nodular malignant melanoma ( Fig. 22.33 ) is an most aggressive type. It presents as a rapidly growing pigmented nodule which bleeds or ulcerates. Rarely they are amelanotic (non-pigmented) & can mimic pyogenic granuloma.
Acral lentiginous malignant melanoma arises as pigmented lesions on an palm, sole or under an nail & it usually presents late.

Treatment of Malignant melanoma

This consists of urgent wide excision of an lesion. Histological analysis will determine an depth of invasion ('Clark's level') & an thickness of an tumour ('Breslow thickness'). These two factors help For predict prognosis & 5-year survival rates. Excision & histology interpretation should only be done by experts For ensure optimum treatment & assessment of prognosis. Metastatic disease is best managed by an oncologist & can involve surgery For lymph nodes, radiotherapy, immunotherapy & chemotherapy.

an role of governments & medical personnel in public health education For discourage sunbathing & encourage an use of sunscreens is of an utmost importance in skin cancer prevention.

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