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DIAGNOSIS DERMATOSCOPY
HISTOLOGY LYMPHATIC
MAPPING
SENTINEL LYMPH NODE BIOPSY
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BACK
PROCEED 
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MELANOMA DIAGNOSIS is a stepwise process.
It starts up with a CLINICAL SKIN EXAM, either by self-examining the
skin on a regular (monthly) basis, or having a dermatologist look at
potentially worrysome skin lesions. See QUICK SPOT
CHECK to learn more about how to check a specific pigmented skin
lesion, or refer to the EASY SPOTCHECK service the Melanoma Research Project is
offering.
If a pigmented skin lesion looks suspicious, it should be analyzed with
the help of additional procedures available with your dermatologist:
DERMATOSCOPY (also termed "dermoscopy", or
"epiluminescence microscopy"). This procedure will help to decide
whether or not to biopsy a lesion in order to obtain a histology
analysis (done by a pathologist).
Depending on the results of the histology analysis, three scenarios are
to be considered:
(1) The lesion was NOT a melanoma (nor another malignant lesion): No
further actio required.
(2) The lesion was a melanoma, but the diagnosis had been picked at a
superficial development stage: Consult with your doctor to discuss
further steps; most likely nothing more or only a small re-resection
intervention needs to be done.
(3) The lesion was a melanoma, and it had been found to be 1 MM or more
in vertical tumor thickness: Consult with an oncologist to arrange the
subsequent staging procedures needed: LYMPHATIC
MAPPING and SENTINEL LYMPH NODE BIOPSY.
These diagnostic steps are required to define the extent of the disease.
You may use the DECISION FINDING MODULE in
order to navigate through the diagnostic and therapeutic options given
at any level of diagnostic workup (this page requires JAVA).
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