Melanoma (cutaneous)

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Melanoma

NIH - Medical Encyclopedia Melanoma

"Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It involves the cells that produce pigment (melanin), which is responsible for skin and hair color. Melanoma can also involve the pigmented portion of the eye. … The primary symptom of any skin cancer is usually a mole, sore, lump, or growth on the skin. Any change in appearance of a pigmented skin lesion over time is a warning sign. Also, watch for any bleeding from a skin growth. The ABCD system may help you remember features that might be a symptom of melanoma: Asymmetry: One half of the abnormal area is different from the other half. Borders: The lesion or growth has irregular edges. Color: Color is varied from one area to another, with shades of tan, brown, or black (sometimes white, red, or blue). A mixture of colors may appear within one lesion. Diameter: The trouble spot is usually (but not always) larger than 6 mm in diameter -- about the size of a pencil eraser.

If you notice any suspicious skin markings, see your health care provider as soon as possible."

Highlighted Article

Comparison of risk patterns in carcinoma and melanoma of the skin in men: a multi-centre case-case-control study. (Br J Cancer. 2006)

"… Subjects with fair hair had a significant risk increase for all types of tumours ... The effect of pale eyes was significant … Intermittent sun exposure measured in hours spent at beach during holidays was significant … and number of naevi …"

Melanoma (cutaneous)

General Information

NEWS:

Melanoma Death Rate Still Climbing "People at greatest risk for skin cancer are those who spend a lot of time in the sun and have fair skin."

Melanoma That Recurs More Prevalent Than Thought

Skin Cancer More Deadly in Darker-Skinned People "New research from the University of Cincinnati (UC) shows that dark-skinned people -- commonly thought to be "immune" to most skin cancers -- are more likely than whites to die from skin cancer and its related complications."

ARTICLES:

Information from your family doctor. Melanoma: A type of skin cancer.

Melanoma

JOURNAL ARTICLES:

A randomized trial to improve early detection and prevention practices among siblings of melanoma patients. (Cancer. 2006) "BACKGROUND.: Identifying high-risk individuals for melanoma education and risk reduction may be a viable strategy to curb the incidence of melanoma, which has risen precipitously in the past 50 years. The first-degree relatives of melanoma patients represent a risk group who may experience a 'teachable moment' for enhanced education and risk reduction. … Diagnosis of melanoma in a family member provides an important opportunity to intervene with others in that family. The components of the intervention may provide a useful foundation for future efforts to target the more than half million siblings at risk for melanoma, a lethal but preventable disease."

Cutaneous malignant melanoma. (Mayo Clin Proc. 2006) "With early diagnosis and appropriate management, most skin cancers have an overall 5-year survival rate of 95%. Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), however, has a significantly higher morbidity and mortality, resulting in 65% of all skin cancer deaths. Although the long-term survival rate for patients with metastatic melanoma is only 5%, early detection of CMM carries an excellent prognosis, with surgical excision often being curative. Primary care physicians can play a critical role in reducing morbidity and mortality from CMM by recognizing patients at risk, encouraging the adoption of risk-reducing behaviors, and becoming adept at identifying suspicious lesions."

[Epidemiology and survival of cutaneous melanoma in Spain: a report of 552 cases (1994-2003).] (Rev Clin Esp. 2006) "The incidence of melanoma has doubled in the last decade. An important proportion of melanomas continues to be diagnosed in advanced stages (III-IV; 14.5%). The following factors were associated with a poor global survival: Tumor thickness, ulceration, nodular type, masculine gender and age older than 65."

Ethnic differences among patients with cutaneous melanoma. (Arch Intern Med. 2006) "RESULTS: Based on our cohort of patients, the average annual age-adjusted melanoma incidence per 100 000 persons was 18.4 for whites compared with 2.3, 0.8, 1.6, and 1.0 for Hispanics, African Americans, American Indians, and Asians, respectively."

High Prevalence of Hypothyroidism in Male Patients with Cutaneous Melanoma (Dermatol Online J. 2006)

Incidence, mortality and survival in cutaneous melanoma. (J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2007) "In Britain the percentage of increase in the male age standardised mortality rate surpassed that of all other malignancies assessed (1993-2002) by Cancer Research UK."

Is head and neck melanoma a distinct entity? A clinical registry-based comparative study in 5702 patients with melanoma. (Br J Dermatol. 2006) "Background The head and neck region is more heavily exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation than any other body site. Therefore, cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) of the head and neck area is proposed to have notable differences from melanoma at other body sites regarding clinicopathological features and survival of patients. … Conclusions In relation to the skin surface significantly more CMMs were found in the head and neck area than in other anatomical regions. This might indicate, but does not prove, that UV exposure promotes the development of CMM. Although HNM showed specific clinicopathological features, prognosis remained unaffected. Thus HNM seems not to be a distinct subtype of CMM."

Low plasma coenzyme Q10 levels as an independent prognostic factor for melanoma progression. (J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006)

[Malignant melanoma--diagnosis and treatment] (Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2006) "RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: The depth of invasion of the melanoma is the most important prognostic factor. The thicker the primary tumour, the less chance there is of patient survival. Patients with a localized tumour should be controlled regularly for up to five years. Primary tumours, local recurrences and metastases should be treated by surgery whenever possible. Radical lymph node dissection should be performed in patients with regional lymph node metastases with the intention of curing the patient. There is no curative chemotherapy for metastatic disease."

Melanoma of the Ear: Treatment and Survival Probabilities Based on 199 Patients. (Ann Plast Surg. 2006) "CONCLUSIONS:: This is the largest review of primary ear melanoma cases reported to date. Survival probabilities at 2, 5, and 10 years for melanoma of the ear based on thickness and stage are presented. Ulceration adversely affected survival probability (P < 0.003). Lesion excision with confirmed negative margins on permanent section pathology should be the goal of initial surgical therapy, and there is no apparent role for elective lymph node dissection in treatment of melanoma of the ear."

Melanoma of the Nose: Prognostic Factors, Three-Dimensional Histology, and Surgical Strategies. (Laryngoscope. 2006) "OBJECTIVES:: The prominent position of the nose in the face accounts for its constant exposure to sunlight and thus its high incidence of malignant involvement. The aim of this prospective study was to define prognostic factors for nasal melanomas and to evaluate surgical strategies. … CONCLUSION:: This is the largest study of nasal melanomas so far. Excision of LMM using 3D histology allowed the reduction of excision margins for better cosmesis and function."

Multiple Primary Melanoma (Arch Dermatol. 2006) "Our study confirms that atypical moles are strongly associated with risk of multiple primary melanomas but provides little evidence that risk is influenced by pigmentary characteristics, hours of sun exposure, or benign moles."

Prognostic significance of extent of ulceration in primary cutaneous melanoma. (Am J Surg Pathol. 2006) "These results suggest that no more than minimal ulceration is required to have a prognostic impact on melanoma survival."

Rate of Growth in Melanomas (Arch Dermatol. 2006) " Conclusions Rapid growth of primary cutaneous melanomas is associated with aggressive histologic features and atypical clinical features. It occurs more frequently in elderly men and individuals with fewer nevi and fewer freckles."

Recent trends in cutaneous malignant melanoma in the Yorkshire region of England; incidence, mortality and survival in relation to stage of disease, 1993-2003. (Br J Cancer. 2006)

Role of dermatologists in treating melanoma. (J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2006)

The control of melanoma in New Zealand. (N Z Med J. 2006) "CONCLUSIONS: The best avenues for reducing the burden of melanoma in New Zealand are prevention of excessive sun exposure and early diagnosis. Reducing severe sunburn and diagnosing a greater proportion of melanomas when they are thin would have the greatest impact on the incidence of and mortality from melanoma."

The current epidemiology of cutaneous malignant melanoma. (Front Biosci. 2006)

The incidence and mortality of cutaneous melanoma in southern Germany: trends by anatomic site and pathologic characteristics, 1976 to 2003. (Cancer. 2006)

The unexpected sites of melanoma regional recurrences. (J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2006)

Treatment and Outcomes of Malignant Melanoma of the Eyelid A Review of 29 Cases in Australia. (Ophthalmology. 2006)

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