Melanoma Skin Check

Melanoma is a potentially invasive form of skin cancer. It arises from the pigment cells called melanocytes that reside in the base of the skin. In a melanoma the melanocytes become malignant & multiply excessively. 

An important cause of melanoma is exposure to too much ultraviolet radiation from sunlight & or artificial sources of ultraviolet light, such as sunbeds. 

The first step is a clinical examination. If a dermatologist is suspicious, we may perform a skin biopsy & subsequent microscopic examination by a pathologist.

The diagnosis of melanoma can only be confirmed by examining the specimen. 

Melanomas tend to resemble a mole that is undergoing changes in shape, size, or colouration. 50% of melanomas occur in a pre-existing mole, but around half the time they arise in an area or normal skin.

Most melanomas follow the ABCDE rule (see below), however nodular, desmoplastic & amelanotic melanomas don’t follow any rules. Fortunately, these variants account for the minority of skin cancers. 

Though more common in sun-exposed areas, melanomas can arise in sun-protected areas including the soles, palms, mucosal surfaces & even the nail bed. When undergoing a full skin examination, your dermatologist will examine these areas. 

Our consultant dermatologists at Cutis Dermatology Brisbane have ‘hold for urgent’ spots. In most cases we can see you within 72 hours. You can access this rapid access service via your general practitioner. 

If a skin cancer is suspected, we will undertake a biopsy on the day. Results can be expected within 24 to 48 hours of biopsy. 

If you have already had melanoma, there is a chance it may recur, hence the requirement for frequent checks. You are also at a higher risk of getting another melanoma at distant sites. 

Your dermatologist will discuss this with you and will regularly monitor you for signs it has returned.

All melanomas are treated by excision. The tumour is assessed under the microscope.  The next step will depend on the Breslow thickness. 

In most cases a further operation will be required to obtain margins. This is known as wide local excision. The extent of this surgery depends on the thickness of your melanoma.

If the melanoma is deep, we would also consider biopsy of the lymph glands. Should there be melanoma present in the lymph glands, further surgery will be required.

The time frame depends on your risk factors. As a guide-

• High risk patients: 3 months
• Moderate risk: 6-9 months
• Low risk: 12-18 months

Your dermatologist will guide you according to your history, previous pathology & importantly your clinical examination. 

The chances of melanomas occurring in darker skin types are very slim. Most new spots in darker skin races are benign age warts. Melanomas in darker skin patients tend to arise in the nail beds, palms & soles. Non-melanoma skin cancers, namely pigmented basal cell cancers, are much more common than melanomas. 

Bottom line, based on probability, the lesion is unlikely a melanoma, however a skin check can be helpful in relieving the anxiety. 

If you have multiple dysplastic moles & are of higher risk for developing melanomas, your dermatologist will action Mole Mapping. This is a professional method to keep track of multiple moles. 

Mole Mapping can-

• Potentially pick up melanomas earlier
• Monitor moles & other lesions
• Pick up non-melanoma skin cancer
• Reduce the requirement for multiple excisions & biopsies

When performing a self-examination for skin cancer, you are looking for any changes to the size, colour of shape of your moles. You are also looking for itching, bleeding, tingling, or crusting of moles which are signs you need to book an appointment to get your moles checked by a specialist. When checking for moles, know your ABCDEs and get your moles professional checked if:

A: Asymmetry – the mole looks unusual & irregular 

B: Border – the border becomes ill-defined or irregular

C: Colour – more than 2 colours appear in the mole including brown, black or light areas giving a mottled appearance. A very dark or black appearance can occur

D: Diameter – if a mole is enlarging it should be reviewed

E: Evolution – changes in size, colour, shape or symptoms

Nodular melanoma doesn’t follow the ABCD rule, but it does follow the ‘E’ for evolution. These melanomas are progressive & changing, though their colour & symmetry are often banal. In the early stages the lesion may be itchy, or just feels weird. 

This type of melanoma is more common in men over 50. Because nodular melanomas grow very rapidly, it can invade very quickly (within a few months). Hence the importance of early diagnosis & removal.

Survival rate is largely dependent on the depth of the melanoma – the thinner the lesion, the better the outcome. For example, a person diagnosed with a superficial in situ melanoma has over 99% five-year survival rate. 

Melanoma less than 1mm thick can expect to have a 92% ten-year survival rate.

If the melanoma is greater than 4mm thick, the ten-year survival rate reduces to 50%.