melanoma

(mel″ă-nō′mă)

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[melano- + -oma]
A malignant tumor of darkly pigmented cells (melanocytes) that often arises in a brown or black mole. The tumor can spread aggressively throughout the body, e.g., to the brain and other internal organs.
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MELANOMA

INCIDENCE
The incidence of the disease is rising rapidly in the U.S., esp. among people over 60. In 2019, the NCI estimated that approx. 95,500 people would be diagnosed with melanoma, and that more than 7,000 would die of the disease. More than 90% of melanomas develop on the skin; about 5% occur in the eye, and 2.5% occur on mucous membranes.

CAUSES
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light, esp. sunlight, contributes to the development of melanoma, as does a family history of the disease. It is more common in fair-skinned than dark-skinned people and more common in people who have many moles on the skin than in those who have few. Total body skin examinations should be performed periodically on high-risk patients. On average, consistent screening identifies melanomas at an earlier stage (when they are thinner, or localized, rather than after they have spread) than those found on routine examination.

PREVENTION
People spending considerable time outside should wear protective clothing to shield against ultraviolet radiation and use sunscreens (at least SPF15) on exposed skin.

Common melanoma sites are the back, shoulders, head and neck (for men), and the legs and back (for women). A skin biopsy and histologic examination can distinguish malignant melanoma from a benign nevus, seborrheic keratosis, or pigmented basal cell epithelioma; it also determines tumor thickness and tumor stage. Staging is based on the TNM system and Clark’s levels system, which classifies tumor progression according to skin layer penetration. Once diagnosed, patients need physical, psychological, and social assessment and care. Treatment options should be explained.

TREATMENT
Melanomas are treated with surgery to remove the primary cancer and adjuvant therapies (chemotherapy and biotherapy) to reduce the risk of metastasis. Biotherapies include monoclonal antibody treatments, targeted for patients with advanced disease. Closure of a wide resection around an excised tumor may require skin grafting. Vaccines have been developed against melanoma; they appear to improve prognosis in affected patients.

IMPACT ON HEALTH
The likelihood of long-term survival depends on the depth of the lesion (thicker lesions are more hazardous), whether it is ulcerated, the histological type (nodular and acral lentiginous melanomas are more dangerous than superficial spreading or lentigo malignant melanomas), the patient's age (older patients do more poorly), and gender (men tend to have a worse prognosis than women). The likelihood of metastatic spread of melanoma is greatest in the first 5 years after diagnosis. For advanced melanomas, regular imaging studies (ultrasound, CT, or PET scans) are recommended every 6 to 12 months during this period. Less frequent follow-up is recommended thereafter.
SEE: ABCD; SEE: skin cancer

PATIENT CARE
After surgery, dressings are inspected for drainage and signs of infection, and the patient is taught about prevention and signs to report. When therapy fails, the patient and family will need referrals for palliative (hospice) care and may also require social services and spiritual care.

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MELANOMA

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