Malignant melanoma

What is Malignant melanoma

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. Recognized through the mnemonic, "A-B-C-D:" Asymmetry of contour, irregularity of Border and Color, and Diameter larger than 6 mm. Malignant melanomas are usually small brown-black or larger multicolored patches, plaques or nodules with irregular outline. Melanomas vary from macules to nodules. Color ranges from flesh tints to pitch black and mixtures of white, blue, purple, and red. Any pigmented skin lesion with recent change in appearance should be suspected.

Malignant melanoma can exist in a superficial spreading mode for years and still be curable by excision with 1 to 2 cm margins. Once a vertical growth phase develops, rapid spread through blood and lymph vessels occurs. Histologic examination is required. Melanoma is a malignant tumor that originates in melanocytes , the cells which produce the pigment melanin that colors our skin, hair, and eyes and is heavily concentrated in most moles.