Malignant Melanoma

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Acral Lentiginous Melanoma
Amelanotic Melanoma
Lentigo Maligna Melanoma
Nodular Melanoma
Superficial Spreading Melanoma
Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle
  • tumour composed of melanocytes
  • usually pigmented but may be amelanotic
  • prognosis depends on thickness
    • once over 0.75mm have great metastatic potential

Aetiology

  • fair-skin
  • sun exposure
    • especially sun burn

Characteristics that suggest malignancy

  • Increase in size
  • Ulceration
  • Change in colour
  • Irritation
  • Bleeding
  • Halo of pigmentation
  • Satellite nodules
  • Enlarged local lymph nodes
  • Evidence of distant spread

Spread

  • metastases to
    • skin
    • brain
    • GI tract

Prognosis

  • thickness <0.75mm
    • lesion can be excised
  • thickness >3mm v. poor prognosis

Types

 

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