Malignant Melanoma. This post will cover the points you need to know for your board exams as well as for teaching residents on the daily rounds. Please don't use the information here to treat your patients.
Malignant Melanoma is the 6th most common cancer in the US and usually affect people in their 6th decade. It affects white more than other races.
Risk factors include sun exposure, blistering sunburns in childhood, immunosuppression, family history, history of skin cancer, autosomal dominant familial melanoma dysplastic nevi syndrome and treatment of psoriasis with psoralen and PUVA.
Melanoma usually presents with ABCDE features (Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variegation, Diameter > 6 mm and Evolution.
One of the subtypes of melanoma is acral lentiginous melanoma that is most commonly in African Americans and Asians characterized by Hutchinson's sign where pigmented streak in nail that extends into the nailfold skin.
Next step is usually full thickness excision biopsy. LDH is elevated when melanoma spreads and is a poor prognostic factor.
An interesting read book on clinical dermatology from Dinulos.
The information in this post is not for patients and shouldn't be used in treating patients. Please refer to your doctor for medical advice.