Malignant Melanoma : Description, Cause, Natural Treatment and Advice For Patient
Description
● An invasive malignant tumour of the epidermal melanocytes, which has the potential to metastasise
Causes
● Risk factors include excessive UV exposure, skin type I (always burns, never tans), history of multiple moles or atypical moles, and family history or previous history of melanoma
Presentation
● The ‘ABCDE Symptoms’ rule (*major suspicious features):
A symmetrical shape*
B order irregularity
C olour irregularity*
D iameter > 6mm
E volution of lesion (e.g. change in size and/or shape)*
Symptoms (e.g. bleeding, itching)
● More common on the legs in women and trunk in men
Types
● Superficial spreading melanoma – common on the lower limbs, in young and middle-aged adults; related to intermittent highintensity UV exposure
● Nodular melanoma - common on the trunk, in young and middleaged adults; related to intermittent high-intensity UV exposure
● Lentigo maligna melanoma - common on the face, in elderly population; related to long-term cumulative UV exposure
● Acral lentiginous melanoma - common on the palms, soles and nail beds, in elderly population; no clear relation with UV exposure
Management
● Surgical excision - definitive treatment
● Radiotherapy may sometimes be useful
● Chemotherapy for metastatic disease
Prognosis
● Recurrence of melanoma based on Breslow thickness (thickness of tumour): <0.76mm thick – low risk, 0.76mm-1.5mm thick – medium risk, >1.5mm thick – high risk
● 5-year survival rates based on the TNM classification (primary
T umour, regional Nodes, Metastases): stage 1 (T <2mm thick, N0,
M 0) - 90%, stage 2 (T>2mm thick, N0, M0) – 80%, stage 3 (N≥1,
M 0) – 40- 50%, and stage 4 (M ≥ 1) – 20-30%
Thanks For Visiting ! Keep Your Healthy !
0 comments:
Post a Comment