Superficial spreading melanoma
- Superficial spreading melanoma
Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) is the most common form of cutaneous melanoma in Caucasians. The average age at diagnosis is in the fifth decade, and it tends to occur on sun-exposed skin, especially on the backs of males and lower limbs of females.
Presentation
Often, this disease evolves from a precursor lesion, usually a dysplastic nevus. Otherwise it arises in previously normal skin. A prolonged radial growth phase, where the lesion remains thin, may eventually be followed by a vertical growth phase where the lesion becomes thick and nodular. As the risk of spread varies with the thickness, early SSM is more frequently cured than late nodular melanoma.
The microscopic hallmarks are:
* Large melanocytic cells with nest formation along the dermo-epidermal junction.
* Invasion of the upper epidermis in a pagetoid fashion (discohesive single cell growth).
* The pattern of rete ridges is often effaced.
* Invasion of the dermis by atypical, pleomorphic melanocytes
* Absence of the 'maturation' typical of naevus cells
* Mitoses
Treatment
Treatment is by excisional biopsy, wide local excision and possibly sentinel node biopsy. Spread of disease to local lymph nodes or distant sites (typically brain, bone, skin and lung) marks a decidedly poor prognosis.
External links
* [http://www.rcpa.edu.au/applications/DocumentLibraryManager2/upload/Melanoma.pdf Fact File from the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (pdf)]
*
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
superficial spreading melanoma — the most common type of malignant melanoma, characterized by a period of radial growth atypical of melanocytes in the epidermis, usually with a lymphocytic cellular host response that may be accompanied by partial or complete regression of the… … Medical dictionary
Melanoma, superficial spreading — The most common type of melanoma, a raised, irregular, colored area that … Medical dictionary
Melanoma — Classification and external resources A melanoma ICD 10 C43 … Wikipedia
melanoma — A malignant neoplasm, derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, arising most commonly in the skin of any part of the body, or in the eye, and, rarely, in the mucous membranes of the genitalia, anus, oral cavity, or other sites;… … Medical dictionary
Nodular melanoma — Classification and external resources ICD 10 C43 (ILDS C43.L10) ICD O: M8721/3 … Wikipedia
Acral lentiginous melanoma — DiseaseDisorder infobox Name = Acral lentiginous melanoma ICD10 = C43 ICD9 = ICD9|172.0 ICD9|173.9 ICDO = ICDO|8744|3 Acral lentiginous melanoma is a kind of lentiginouscite journal |author=Phan A, Touzet S, Dalle S, Ronger Savlé S, Balme B,… … Wikipedia
mucosal melanoma — melanoma on a mucous membrane, chiefly the palate but also elsewhere on the head and neck, genitalia, and esophagus, usually in older women; most are lentiginous, but nodular and superficial spreading melanomas also occur … Medical dictionary
malignant melanoma — n MELANOMA (2) * * * see melanoma * * * a malignant neoplasm of melanocytes, arising de novo or from a preexisting benign nevus or lentigo maligna, occurring most often in the skin but sometimes in the oral cavity, esophagus, anal canal, vagina,… … Medical dictionary
List of cutaneous conditions — This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries. See also: Cutaneous conditions, Category:Cutaneous conditions, and ICD 10… … Wikipedia
Skin neoplasm — Skin cancer Classification and external resources A basal cell carcinoma. Note the pearly appearance and telangiectasia. ICD 10 C … Wikipedia
