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Small-diameter invasive melanomas: clinical and pathologic characteristics
A Gonzalez1, A J West, J V Pitha
1Department of Dermatology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA.
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Small melanomas (less than 6 mm) are not rare, accounting for 4.4% of cases. These smaller invasive melanomas present unique clinical and histologic features that require careful diagnosis by clinicians and pathologists.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Most melanomas are diagnosed when larger than 6 mm.
- Smaller melanomas are less understood.
- Investigating small melanomas is crucial for early detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine the incidence of small melanomas (< 6 mm).
- Characterize the clinical and histologic features of small melanomas.
- Understand the demographic and clinical differences between small and large melanomas.
Main Methods:
- Reviewed and measured all invasive melanomas diagnosed between 1984-1993.
- Scrutinized invasive lesions less than 6 mm for clinical and morphological characteristics.
- Compared features of small melanomas to larger ones.
Main Results:
- 16 (4.4%) of 357 invasive melanomas were less than 6 mm.
- Small melanomas often lacked typical histologic features of larger lesions.
- Half of small melanomas were over 0.75 mm deep; patients were younger.
- Clinical presentation differed between sexes: small melanomas appeared cancerous in females but nevus-like in males.
Conclusions:
- Melanomas smaller than 6 mm are not rare and occur in 4.4% of cases.
- Recognizing the distinct features of small melanomas is essential for accurate diagnosis.
- Clinicians and pathologists need to be aware of these features to avoid misdiagnosis.