The malignant melanoma The malignant melanoma
The incidence has dramatically increased in recent last years.
Many epidemiological research results lead to the presumption
that there is a connection between the increase and augmented
UV-exposition (e.g. changed behaviour in leisure time).
Middle-aged people are usually affected, but also young grown-ups. In Germany, the melanoma probability is higher in women than men.
| most common formation probabilities: | - on previously normal skin
(70%) - on a pigmented melanocytic naevus (20 - 25%) - on a Lentigo maligna (5 - 10%) |
| Types of melanoma: | - superficial spreading
malignant melanoma (SSM) - primary nodular malignant melanoma (NM) - Lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) - akrolentiginous malignant melanoma (ALM) - non classifiable melanoma |
| Prognosis depends on: | - stage at detection - depth of invasion - type of melanoma - localisation - sex |
The differentiation between malignant and benign lesions requires a sound dermatoscopic experience. In the upper panel, three malignant melanomas are shown, opposed by three benign lesions in the lower panel. The morphologic variety of melanocytic lesions, which complicates the diagnosis, becomes evident.
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malignant lesion |
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benign lesion |