Melanoma

Not to be confused with Multiple myeloma.

Melanoma
Other namesMalignant melanoma
A back irregular Tumor 2.5 cm (1 in) by 1.5 cm (0.6 in)
Pronunciation
SpecialtyOncology and dermatology
SymptomsMole that is increasing in size, has irregular edges, change in color, itchiness, or skin breakdown.[1]
CausesUltraviolet light (Sun, tanning devices)[2]
Risk factorsFamily history, many moles, poor immune function[1]
Diagnostic methodTissue biopsy[1]
Differential diagnosisSeborrheic keratosis, lentigo, blue nevus, dermatofibroma[3]
PreventionSunscreen, avoiding UV light[2]
TreatmentSurgery[1]
PrognosisFive-year survival rates in US 99% (localized), 25% (disseminated)[4]
Frequency3.1 million (2015)[5]
Deaths59,800 (2015)[6]

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] Melanoma is frequently referred to as malignant melanoma. However, the medical community stresses that there is no such thing as a 'benign melanoma' and recommends that the term 'malignant melanoma' should be avoided as redundant.[7][8][9]

About 25% of melanomas develop from moles.[2] Changes in a mole that can indicate melanoma include increase—especially rapid increase—in size, irregular edges, change in color, itchiness, or skin breakdown.[1]

The primary cause of melanoma is ultraviolet light (UV) exposure in those with low levels of the skin pigment melanin.[2][10] The UV light may be from the sun or other sources, such as tanning devices.[2] Those with many moles, a history of affected family members, and poor immune function are at greater risk.[1] A number of rare genetic conditions, such as xeroderma pigmentosum, also increase the risk.[11] Diagnosis is by biopsy and analysis of any skin lesion that has signs of being potentially cancerous.[1]

Avoiding UV light and using sunscreen in UV-bright sun conditions may prevent melanoma.[2] Treatment typically is removal by surgery of the melanoma and the potentially affected adjacent tissue bordering the melanoma.[1] In those with slightly larger cancers, nearby lymph nodes may be tested for spread (metastasis).[1] Most people are cured if metastasis has not occurred.[1] For those in whom melanoma has spread, immunotherapy, biologic therapy, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy may improve survival.[1][12] With treatment, the five-year survival rates in the United States are 99% among those with localized disease, 65% when the disease has spread to lymph nodes, and 25% among those with distant spread.[4] The likelihood that melanoma will reoccur or spread depends on its thickness, how fast the cells are dividing, and whether or not the overlying skin has broken down.[2]

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer.[2] Globally, in 2012, it newly occurred in 232,000 people.[2] In 2015, 3.1 million people had active disease, which resulted in 59,800 deaths.[5][6] Australia and New Zealand have the highest rates of melanoma in the world.[2] High rates also occur in Northern Europe and North America, while it is less common in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.[2] In the United States, melanoma occurs about 1.6 times more often in men than women.[13] Melanoma has become more common since the 1960s in areas mostly populated by people of European descent.[2][11]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Melanoma Treatment – for health professionals". National Cancer Institute. 26 June 2015. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n World Cancer Report (PDF). World Health Organization. 2014. pp. Chapter 5.14. ISBN 978-92-832-0429-9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 May 2014.
  3. ^ Goldstein BG, Goldstein AO (April 2001). "Diagnosis and management of malignant melanoma". American Family Physician. 63 (7): 1359–68, 1374. PMID 11310650.
  4. ^ a b "SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Melanoma of the Skin". NCI. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014.
  5. ^ a b Vos T, Allen C, Arora M, Barber RM, Bhutta ZA, Brown A, et al. (GBD 2015 Disease Injury Incidence Prevalence Collaborators) (October 2016). "Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015". Lancet. 388 (10053): 1545–1602. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31678-6. PMC 5055577. PMID 27733282.
  6. ^ a b Wang H, Naghavi M, Allen C, Barber RM, Bhutta ZA, Carter A, et al. (GBD 2015 Mortality Causes of Death Collaborators) (October 2016). "Global, regional, and national life expectancy, all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes of death, 1980-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015". Lancet. 388 (10053): 1459–1544. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)31012-1. PMC 5388903. PMID 27733281.
  7. ^ Schwartzman RM, Orkin M (1962). A Comparative Study of Diseases of Dog and Man. Springfield, IL: Thomas. p. 85. The term 'melanoma' in human medicine indicates a malignant growth; the prefix 'malignant' is redundant.
  8. ^ Bobonich M, Nolen ME (2015). Dermatology for Advanced Practice Clinicians. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer. p. 106. The term malignant melanoma is becoming obsolete because the word 'malignant' is redundant as there are no benign melanomas.
  9. ^ Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary. 2012. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2021. Avoid the redundant phrase malignant melanoma.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference SunM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Azoury SC, Lange JR (October 2014). "Epidemiology, risk factors, prevention, and early detection of melanoma". The Surgical Clinics of North America. 94 (5): 945–62, vii. doi:10.1016/j.suc.2014.07.013. PMID 25245960.
  12. ^ Syn NL, Teng MW, Mok TS, Soo RA (December 2017). "De-novo and acquired resistance to immune checkpoint targeting". The Lancet. Oncology. 18 (12): e731–e741. doi:10.1016/s1470-2045(17)30607-1. PMID 29208439.
  13. ^ "USCS Data Visualizations". gis.cdc.gov. Archived from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020. Need to select "melanoma"