Ad
related to: are melanomas raised or flat
Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer; it develops from the melanin-producing cells known as melanocytes. [1] It typically occurs in the skin, but may rarely occur in the mouth, intestines, or eye (uveal melanoma). [1] [2] In women, melanomas most commonly occur on the legs; while in men, on the back. [2]
Most melanoma consist of various colours from shades of brown to black. A small number of melanoma are pink, red or fleshy in colour; these are called amelanotic melanoma and tend to be more aggressive. Warning signs of malignant melanoma include change in the size, shape, color or elevation of a mole.
Causes of melanoma. Ultraviolet light exposure from the sun or from tanning beds causes most melanomas. Melanoma may appear at a spot where you have an existing mole. But if an unusual spot shows ...
Like typical moles, dysplastic nevi can be flat or raised. While they vary in size, dysplastic nevi are typically larger than normal moles and tend to have irregular borders and irregular coloration. Hence, they resemble melanoma , appear worrisome, and are often removed to clarify the diagnosis.
However, a melanocytic nevus is benign, and melanoma is malignant. Most melanocytic nevi never evolve into a cancer, with the lifetime risk for an individual nevus being 1 in 3000 for men and 1 in 11 000 for women. [5] Moreover, dermatologists have a standardized system for determining whether a skin lesion is suspicious for malignant melanoma.
Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) is a type of skin cancer that typically starts as an irregularly edged dark spot typically on sun-exposed part of the body. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] The colour may be variable with dark, light and reddish shades; occasionally no color at all. [ 2 ]
Evolution of a 4 mm nodular melanoma. Nodular melanoma (NM) is the most aggressive form of melanoma. [1] It tends to grow more rapidly in thickness (vertically penetrate the skin) than in diameter compared to other melanoma subtypes. [2] Instead of arising from a pre-existing mole, it may appear in a spot where a lesion did not previously exist.
Amelanotic melanoma is a type of skin cancer in which the cells do not make any melanin. [1]: 696 [2] They can be pink, red, purple or of normal skin color, and are therefore difficult to diagnose correctly.