is a malignant
Tumor of
Melanocyte s. Melanocytes predominantly occur in the
Skin but can be found elsewhere, especially the
Eye . The vast majority of melanomas originate in the skin. Melanomas are the most lethal form of skin cancer. As with most forms of cancer, earlier detection gives patients a better chance of survival.
Epidemiologic studies from Australia suggest that exposure to
Ultraviolet radiation is one of the major contributors to the development of melanoma. Few
Dermatologist s question the association between sunlight and melanoma. It is widely believed that occasional extreme sun exposure (resulting in "
Sunburn ") is causally related to melanoma. Those with more chronic long term exposure (outdoor workers) may develop protective mechanisms. Melanoma is most common on the back in men and on legs in women (areas of intermittent sun exposure) and is more common in indoor workers than outdoor workers (in a British study). Other factors are
Mutation s in or total loss of
Tumor Suppressor Gene s. Use of
Sunbed s (with deeply penetrating UVA rays) has been linked to the development of skin cancers, including melanoma.
Possible significant elements in determining risk include the intensity and duration of sun exposure, the age at which sun exposure occurs, and the degree of
Skin Pigmentation .
Exposure during childhood is a more important risk factor than exposure in adulthood. This is seen in migration studies in
Australia where people tend to retain the risk profile of their country of birth if they migrate to Australia as an adult.
Fair and red-headed people are at greater risk for developing melanoma. A person with multiple atypical
Nevi or dysplastic nevi are at a significant risk. Although constant exposure to sun can cause melanoma, it is a larger risk factor for other less serious skin cancers, such as
Basal Cell Carcinoma and
Squamous Cell Carcinoma . Individuals with blistering or peeling sunburns (especially in the first twenty years of life) have a significantly greater risk for melanoma.
A family history of melanoma greatly increases a person's risk. It is critical that individuals with family members who have been diagnosed with melanoma be checked regularly for skin cancer.
- Minimize exposure to sources of ultraviolet radiation (the sun and sunbeds)
- Follow sun protection measures. Wearing protective clothing (long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, and broad-brimmed hats.) offers the best protection. Use a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or better on exposed areas.
To prevent or detect melanomas (and increase survival rates), it is recommended that the public:
- Learn what they look like (see "ABCDE" mnemonic below.)
- Are aware of moles and check for changes (shape, size, color, itching or bleeding)
- Show any suspicious moles to a doctor (preferably a Dermatologist ).
A popular method for remembering the signs and symptoms of melanoma is the mnemonic "ABCDE":
- symmetrical skin lesion.
- order of the lesion is irregular.
- olor: melanomas usually have multiple colors.
- iameter: moles greater than 5 mm are more likely to be melanomas than smaller moles.
- volution: The evolution (ie change) of a mole or lesion may be a hint that the lesion is becoming malignant.
If you have a personal or family history of skin cancer or of
Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome (multiple atypical moles) you should see a dermatologist at least once a year.
Any mole that is irregular in color or shape should be examined by a doctor to determine if it is a malignant melanoma, the most serious and life-threatening form of skin cancer. Following a visual examination and a
Dermatoscopic Exam (an instrument that illuminates a mole, revealing its underlying pigment and vascular network structure), the doctor may biopsy the suspicious mole. If it is malignant, the mole and an area around it needs excision. This may require a referral to a surgeon or dermatologist.
The diagnosis of melanoma requires experience, as early stages may look identical to harmless
Moles or not have any color at all. Where any doubt exists, the patient will be referred to a specialist dermatologist. Beyond this expert knowledge a
Biopsy performed under
Local Anesthesia is often required to assist in making or confirming the
Diagnosis and in defining the severity of the melanoma.
One method is a ''punch biopsy'', using a surgical punch (an instrument similar to a tiny cookie cutter with a handle, with an opening ranging in size from 1 to 6 mm). The punch is used to remove a plug of skin (down to the subcutaneous layer) from a portion of a large suspicious lesion, or to completely remove a smaller lesion. Preferably, an ''excisional biopsy'' can be performed, where the suspect lesion is totally removed by cutting an ellipse of tissue around it. Both methods will include the epidermal, dermal, and subcutaneous layers of the skin in the biopsy specimen, enabling the
Pathologist to determine the depth of penetration of the melanoma by microscopic examination. This is described by Clark's level (involvement of skin structures) and Breslow's depth (measured in millimeters).
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) tests are often used to screen for
Metastases , although many patients with metastases (even end-stage) have a normal LDH; extraordinarily high LDH often indicates metastatic spread of the disease to the liver. It is common for patients diagnosed with melanoma to have chest X-rays and an LDH test, and in some cases
CT ,
MRI ,
PET and/or PET/CT scans. Although controversial, sentinel
Lymph Node biopsies and examination of the lymph nodes are also performed in patients to assess spread to the lymph nodes.
Sometimes the skin lesion may bleed, itch, or ulcerate, although this is a very late sign. A slow-healing lesion should be watched closely, as that may be a sign of melanoma. Be aware also that in circumstances that are still poorly understood, melanomas may "regress" or spontaneously become smaller or invisible - however the malignancy is still present. (colorless or flesh-colored) melanomas do not have pigment and may not even be visible. '''
Lentigo maligna''', a superficial melanoma confined to the topmost layers of the skin (found primarily in older patients) is often described as a "stain" on the skin. Some patients with metastatic melanoma do not have an obvious detectable primary tumor.
In the skin:
Elsewhere:
Features that affect
Prognosis are tumor thickness in millimeters (
Breslow's Depth ), depth related to skin structures (
Clark Level ), type of melanoma, presence of ulceration, presence of lymphatic/perineural invasion, presence of tumor infiltrating
Lymphocyte s (if present, prognosis is better), location of lesion, presence of satellite lesions, and presence of regional or distant
Metastasis .
Certain types of melanoma have worse prognoses. For example, minimal deviation melanomas have a much better prognosis than superficial spreading melanomas or even lentigo maligna melanomas. Interestingly, less invasive melanomas even with lymph node metastases carry a better prognosis than deep melanomas without regional metastasis at time of staging. Local recurrences tend to behave similar to a primary unless they are at the site of a wide local excision (as opposed to a staged excision or punch/shave excision) since these recurrences tend to indicate lymphatic invasion.
When melanomas have spread to the lymph nodes, one of the most important factors is the number of nodes with malignancy. Extent of malignancy within a node is also important; micrometastases in which malignancy is microscopic only have a more favorable prognosis than macrometastases. In some cases micrometastases may only be detected by special staining, and if malignancy is only detectable by a rarely-employed test known as
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), the prognosis is good. Macrometastases in which malignancy is clinically apparent (in some cases cancer completely replaces a node) have a far worse prognosis, and if nodes are matted or if there is extracapsular extension, the prognosis is worse.
When there is distant metastasis, the cancer is generally considered incurable. The five year survival rate is less than 10%. The median survival is 6 to 12 months. Treatment is palliative, focusing on life-extension and quality of life. In some cases, patients may live many months or even years with metastatic melanoma (depending on the aggressiveness of the treatment). Metastases to skin and lungs have a better prognosis. Metastases to brain, bone and liver are associated with a worse prognosis.
There is not enough definitive evidence to adequately stage, and thus give a prognosis for ocular melanoma and melanoma of soft parts, or mucosal melanoma (e.g. rectal melanoma), although these tend to metastasize more easily. Even though regression may increase survival, when a melanoma has regressed, it is impossible to know its original size and thus the original tumor is often worse than a pathology report might indicate.
''Further context on
Cancer Staging is available at
TNM .''
Stage 0: Melanoma in Situ (Clark Level I), 100% Survival
Stage I/II: Invasive Melanoma, 85-95% Survival
- T1a: Less than 1.00 mm primary, w/o Ulceration, Clark Level II-III
- T1b: Less than 1.00 mm primary, w/Ulceration or Clark Level IV-V
- T2a: 1.00-2.00 mm primary, w/o Ulceration
Stage II: High Risk Melanoma, 40-85% Survival
- T2b: 1.00-2.00 mm primary, w/ Ulceration
- T3a: 2.00-4.00 mm primary, w/o Ulceration
- T3b: 2.00-4.00 mm primary, w/ Ulceration
- T4a: 4.00 mm or greater primary w/o Ulceration
- T4b: 4.00 mm or greater primary w/ Ulceration
Stage III: Regional Metastasis, 25-60% Survival
- N1: Single Positive Lymph Node
- N2: 2-3 Positive Lymph Nodes OR Regional Skin/In-Transit Metastasis
- N3: 4 Positive Lymph Nodes OR Lymph Node and Regional Skin/In Transit Metastases
Stage IV: Distant Metastasis, 9-15% Survival (10-Year Survival ~0%)
- M1a: Distant Skin Metastasis, Normal LDH
- M1b: Lung Metastasis, Normal LDH
- M1c: Other Distant Metastasis OR Any Distant Metastasis with Elevated LDH
''Based Upon AJCC 5-Year Survival With Proper Treatment''
Treatment of malignant melanoma is best performed from a multidisciplinary approach including
Dermatologists , medical
Oncologists , radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, general surgeons,
Neurologists ,
Neurosurgeons ,
Otorynolaryngologists ,
Radiologists ,
Pathologists /dermatopathologists, research scientists,
Nurse Practitioner s and
Physician Assistants , and
Palliative Care experts. Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) are qualified to evaluate and treat patients on behalf of their supervising physicians, so it should not be a surprise when visiting a dermatologist to see an NP or PA.
Diagnostic punch or excisional biopsies may appear to excise (and in some cases may indeed actually remove) the tumor, but further surgery is often necessary to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Complete surgical excision with adequate margins and assessment for the presence of detectable metastatic disease along with short and long term follow up is standard. Often this is done by a "wide local excision" (WLE) with 1.0 cm margins.
More recently, Mohs micrographic surgery is becoming increasingly popular for smaller melanomas, especially of the face. In this surgery, performed by specially-trained dermatologists, a small layer of tissue is excised and prepared as a frozen tissue section. This section can be prepared and examined by the dermatologist/dermatopathologist within one hour, and the patient will return for further stages of excision as needed, with each excised tissue layer being examined until clear margins are obtained. Although the amount of stages required can range from one to five or more, on average only two stages will be necessary to excise the tumor. If a tumor is found to be more invasive or widespread than previously thought, a WLE may on rare occasions be performed after Mohs surgery has begun. Although the risk of recurrence is slightly higher, the procedure is much less invasive and patients undergoing Mohs surgery have a similar survival rate to patients undergoing WLE.
Some superficial melanomas (lentigo maligna melanoma) have resolved with
Imiquimod (Aldara®) topical cream, an immune enhancing agent. Application of this cream has been shown to decrease tumor size prior to surgery, reducing the invasiveness of the procedure. This treatment is used especially for smaller melanoma in situ lesions located in cosmetically sensitive regions. Several published studies demonstrate a 70% cure rate with this topical treatment. With lentigo maligna, surgical cure rates are no higher. Some dermasurgeons are combining the 2 methods: surgically excise the cancer, then treat the area with Aldara® cream post-operatively for 3 months.
Melanomas with greater involvement may require referral to a medical or surgical oncologist.
Although controversial and without prolonging survival, "sentinel lymph node" biopsy is often performed, especially for T1b/T2+ tumors, mucosal tumors, ocular melanoma and tumors of the limbs. A process called "lymphoscintigraphy" is performed in which a mildly radioactive tracer is injected at the tumor site in order to localize the "sentinel node(s)". Surgery is performed to biopsy the node(s). Routine H&E staining, and immunoperoxidase staining will be adequate to rule out node involvement. PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests on nodes, usually performed to test for entry into clinical trials, now demonstrate that many patients with a negative SLN actually had a small amount of malignancy in their nodes. Alternatively, a fine-needle aspiration may be performed, and is often used to test masses. If a lymph node is positive, depending on the extent of lymph node spread, a radical lymph node dissection will often be performed, and most patients in otherwise good health will begin up to a year of high-dose
Interferon treatment, which despite side effects, greatly improves a patient's prognosis.
Metastatic melanomas can be detected by X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, PET and PET/CTs, ultrasound, and LDH testing. Various
Chemotherapy agents are used, including
Dacarbazine (also termed DTIC),
Immunotherapy (with
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) or
Interferon (IFN)) as well as local perfusion are used by different centers. They can occasionally show dramatic success, but the overall success in metastatic melanoma is quite limited. IL-2 (Proleukin®)is the first new therapy approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma in 20 years. Studies have demonstrated that IL-2 offers the possibility of a complete and long-lasting remission in this disease. Currently in clinical trials are a combination of dacarbazine and
Oblimersen .
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Radiation Therapy is often used after surgical resection for patients with locally or regionally advanced melanoma or for patients with unresectable distant metastases. In research setting other therapies, such as
Gene Therapy , may be tested.
Radioimmunotherapy of metastatic melanoma is currently under investigation.
