Abstract

MORDOH, Ana. Clinical manifestations of melanoma. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2009, vol.43, n.3, pp.327-331. ISSN 0325-2957.

Melanoma is a malignant tumor that originates in melanocytes and whose incidence and mortality have increased in the last decades. The most important risk factors are a genetic susceptibility related to sun sensitivity (having tanning capacity and being prone to sunburn) and with certain speci1c genes; environmental factors such as exposure to UV radiation, latitude and a combination of both such as the number of nevis. Its clinical forms are: super1cial spreading melanoma (70%), nodular melanoma (15-30%), lentigo maligna melanoma (10-15%) and acral lentiginous melanoma (5%). Among all the histological characteristics, Breslow's depth (measured in mm from the granular layer of the epidermis to the deepest point of tumor invasion) is the most important predictor for progression free survival. An appropriate surgical treatment with 1-cm margin melanomas in low-risk patients (Breslow < 1 mm) cures over 90% of the patients. Thus, early detection of melanoma is an important goal in melanoma treatment.

Keywords : Melanoma; Clinical manifestations; Risk factors.

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