LO CALL: 1850 918 133Dermatology
Malignant Melanoma
Melanoma is a potentially serious type of skin cancer, in which there is uncontrolled growth of melanocytes (pigment cells). Melanoma is sometimes called malignant melanoma.
Histopathology explained
The pathologist's report above includes a macroscopic description (the naked eye view), of the specimen and a microscopic description. The following features suggest an invasive melanoma.
- Diagnosis of primary melanoma
- Breslow thickness to the nearest 0.1 mm
- Clark level of invasion
- Margins of excision i.e. the normal tissue around the tumour
- Mitotic rate – a measure of how fast the cells are proliferating
- Whether or not there is ulceration
The report includes comments about cell type and its growth pattern, invasion of blood vessels or nerves, inflammatory response, regression and whether there is associated in-situ disease
The ABCDEs of Melanoma
A Asymmetry
B Border irregularity
C Colour variation
D Diameter over 6 mm
E Evolving (enlarging, changing)
