Malignant melanoma can affect people of any age and is one of the most malignant.

This disease arises from cells that produce melanin (melanocytes), melanoma is characterized by a dark color, but sometimes there may be no pigment. Often occurs on the skin, much less often on the choroidal membrane of the eyes, nasal mucosa, in the oral cavity, in the vagina or rectum.

Melanoma occurs in the presence of age spots such as nevi. Acquired spots that are found in adult patients are especially dangerous.. At risk are people who have undergone large doses of ultraviolet radiation, a genetic predisposition, people with pigmented xeroderma, with Dubreus' melanosis.

Hairy nevi cannot be malignant, therefore, if there is hair on the neoplasm, it is defined as benign.

Melanoma diagnostics.

The doctor performs an examination using a magnifying glass. To clarify the diagnosis, a radioisotope accumulation of phosphorus is used, if the accumulation is increased, then this indicates a malignant tumor. In malignant melanoma, biopsy or puncture is not performed so as not to injure the skin, because. trauma can cause an acute and rapid tumor growth process. Thus, the main diagnostic method is the study of the imprint from the surface of the ulcer for cytology..

An important diagnostic method is cytological analysis of an ulcer sample.. To detect the presence of metastases, the patient undergoes ultrasound, X-ray and CT.

Clinical picture In most cases, the disease arises from nevi - birthmarks.

The following parts of the body are most susceptible to melanoma: scalp, neck, limbs. In men, the disease manifests itself on the back, chest, arms, in women, manifestations, as a rule, on the chest, legs.

Symptoms of malignant tumors are: an increase in size, the appearance of bleeding, the color of the spots changes, infiltration around the birthmark.

Malignant melanoma is a small nodule with a predominantly black color; it happens that the neoplasm has no pigment or has a pinkish pigment. The tumor can be from half a centimeter to three centimeters in size. Surface bleeding and base density are common.

The doctor uses a magnifying glass to quite easily determine the disease, but at an early stage, the stain may look harmless, so a large one is needed to determine the disease and additional diagnostic methods.

Treatment of malignant melanoma In case of any changes occurring in the nevus, surgery is immediately applied. With insufficient excision of tumor formations or incorrect tactics, relapses are possible.

Treatment methods:.

• Surgical excision.

• Combined technique.

The combined technique consists of radiation therapy and surgery.

With this disease, metastases to the lymph nodes appear early enough, and they also need to be excised, even if they are not enlarged.. With enlarged lymph nodes before surgery, they are irradiated.

After the operation, the patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics.

If metastases are found, combined techniques are used, including the appointment of anticancer drugs.

Metastases Prognosis Malignant melanoma tends to rapidly metastasize through lymph and blood flow. The most common metastases occur in the lungs, brain, liver, sometimes nodules form on the surface of the skin throughout the body.

In malignant melanoma, the prognosis is poor, timely diagnosis and the presence of metastases play an important role.

If distant metastases are found, then the patient dies within one year. If the disease is detected at an early stage, the survival rate reaches 60-80%. The location of the tumor is also important for the success of treatment..

Prevention of malignant melanoma To prevent the onset of this disease, it is necessary to remove nevi that are susceptible to injury in time, periodically be examined by a dermatologist and pay attention to the appearance of suspicious formations on the skin.

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