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Melanoma

Anila Khaliq, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Melanoma is a tumor arising from malignant transformation of pigment-containing cells called melanocytes, which are found in the stratum basale of the epidermis.

    • Most arise in the ski...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Change in a pigmented lesion: either hypo- or hyperpigmentation, bleeding, scaling, ulceration, or changes in size or texture

  • Family history of skin cancer, occupation, sunbathing, tan...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

Full surgical excision of melanoma is the standard of care and primary treatment recommended for resectable/nonmetastatic melanomas. 
  • For stages I to II, surgical excision is ...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Total body photography and dermoscopy should be used for surveillance of skin lesions, most commonly used for patients with >5 atypical nevi.

  • ...

REFERENCES

1
Swetter SM, Tsao H, Bichakjian CK, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of primary cutaneous melanoma. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(1):208–250.

CODES

ICD10

  • C43.9 Malignant melanoma of skin, unspecified

  • C43.30 Malignant melanoma of unspecified part of face

  • C43.4 Malignant melanoma of scalp and neck

  • C43.39 Malignant melanoma of other parts of face

  • C...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Teach all patients to perform regular full-body skin examinations looking for ABCDE criteria

  • Location on White people is primarily back and lower leg; on Black people, it is the hands, ...

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