Melanoma Resources
This information is explained in much more detail on our sister
website: AboutMelanoma.com.
How Is Melanoma Diagnosed?
If your physician suspects that a mark on the skin is melanoma,
you will need to have a biopsy to make a definite diagnosis. A biopsy
usually can be done in the physician’s office using local
anesthesia. A pathologist then examines the tissue under a microscope
to look for cancer cells.
If cancer is detected
If cancer is found, it then will be classified by a stage. The treatment
of melanoma depends on the stage at which it is diagnosed. There
are several important factors that determine the stage:
- Breslow Thickness: The thickness of the melanoma, measured
by the pathologist in millimeters. In general, thin melanomas
(less than 1 mm thickness) have an excellent prognosis. Melanomas
greater than 4 mm are serious melanomas with a significant chance
of spreading to other parts of the body. Melanomas between 1 and
4 mm are called “intermediate thickness” melanomas,
with an intermediate chance of spreading to other areas.
- Clark’s Level: This is a measure of the level of invasion
of the melanoma into the skin, graded from I to V. In general,
it is not as helpful or accurate as the Breslow thickness. Many
patients focus on the Clark’s level of invasion because
it is a number they can easily remember. Many Clark’s level
IV melanomas, however, have a very good outcome.
- Lymph Nodes Status: Whether or not the cancer has spread to the
regional lymph nodes (usually in the neck, under the arm or in
the groin) is the single most important factor predicting survival.
- Ulceration: Ulceration is defined by the pathologist as the absence
of an intact epithelium overlying the melanoma. The epithelium
refers to the cells that line the internal and external surfaces
of the body. If ulceration is present, it indicates a worse prognosis.
To learn about each stage, including treatment options by stage,
visit AboutMelanoma.com.