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Health and Medical Information

Melanoma

Diagnosis and Evaluation of Melanoma

Cancer Treatment at UPMC Health System

Screening
Diagnosis and Evaluation

Fortunately, when melanoma is detected early, it is highly curable. Self-screening and regular examination by a doctor are the keys to early diagnosis.

Screening
Self-screening involves examining the entire skin surface for the the unusual growths listed on the page called Melanoma: Risk Factors. Be aware that melanoma can develop on areas of the skin normally unexposed to sunlight -- the palms; the soles of the feet; between toes and fingers; and on the scalp, genitalia, and anal area. Use a mirror to examine hard-to-see areas, or ask a close friend or family member to help. If you find an unusual growth, see your primary care physician immediately.

A doctor screens for melanoma in the same way you would, by examining the entire skin surface. He or she will pay special attention to the sun-exposed surfaces at highest risk and those areas, such as the back, that patients have trouble examining themselves.

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Diagnosis and Evaluation
If screening discovers a growth that might be melanoma, the growth must be evaluated by an expert. A doctor removes a small sample of the tissue and a pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope.

The pathologist assesses the tumor's characteristics -- such as tumor thickness -- that influence prognosis and treatment. Tumors less than 3/100 inch (0.76 millimeter) thick are an increasing fraction of new cases; patients with tumors of this size who receive prompt, appropriate treatment have a 98 percent chance of five-year survival. Patients with tumors larger than 1/6 inch (4 millimeters) thick have a 50 percent chance of five-year survival. Large tumors are becoming less common as the public becomes more aware of the early signs of melanoma and is more likely to seek treatment promptly. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, as it has in 15 percent of new patients, the chance for five-year survival drops to 25 to 40 percent.

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