Diagnosis of skin melanoma: methods, reviews

The basis for successful treatment of the disease is its timely diagnosis. Especially this statement justifies itself with tumor pathologies, when literally every second counts. One such problem is melanoma. Every year this cancer is only getting younger. The earlier the doctor can identify it, the higher the chances for a favorable prognosis. In today's article, we will dwell in more detail on the main methods for diagnosing melanoma, and also describe the options for its treatment.

Medical information

Melanoma is a malignant neoplasm, which develops in the skin fragments of tissues. It is formed from melanocytes - cells responsible for the release of pigment by the reproduction of this element. The most vulnerable are those parts of the body that are difficult to protect from ultraviolet radiation. It's about the face, trunk and extremities. Melanoma can form on the site of a pre-existing nevus or spread to perfectly healthy fragments of the epithelium.

An important feature of the pathological process is the almost complete absence of an immune response. Therefore, the tumor is rapidly developing and increasing in size. Every year it is diagnosed in about 100 thousand people. In our country there is a tendency to an increase in the incidence. In most cases, melanoma affects people aged 75 to 85 years. It significantly reduces life expectancy and can lead to death.

According to medical statistics, approximately 75% of cases can detect this ailment even at the initial stage of development. This is possible not only due to a pronounced clinical picture. A certain role in the detection process belongs to the timely diagnosis of melanoma. It can be distinguished visually from other types of skin cancers. However, to compile a treatment program, one must know about the tumor the maximum amount of information. Diagnosis allows you to determine the degree and stage of the pathological process, make a prediction, find metastases, and so on. In more detail, let's look at the main options.

Anamnesis history

Anamnesis collection is the primary stage of diagnostics of almost all pathologies. It involves the study of the patient's medical history and the collection of information. Based on the results of the original survey, the specialist will be able to make a preliminary diagnosis and, subject to the conclusion, to appoint a further examination.

Melanoma is an oncologist. On the first admission, he always questions the patient about his symptoms. To clarify the clinical picture, the oncologist can ask a number of clarifying questions: when a hotbed of inflammation appeared, the influence of which factors preceded its development, etc.

Diagnosis of melanoma also implies the study of genetic predisposition. It is important for the doctor to know whether other family members have documented cases of such a disease. The thing is that most oncological pathologies have a hereditary character.

Physical examination

In the course of a detailed study of the clinical manifestations of the tumor, the specialist gives a qualitative assessment of its main parameters:

• the size;
• Structural content;
• Borders;
• Color pigment;
• Surface texture.

The doctor also performs palpation of inguinal, axillary and cervical lymph nodes. If melanoma metastasizes, its pathological foci primarily spread to neighboring lymph nodes. Increasing them in size is a clear symptom of cancer.

If you suspect a malignant oncology, an obligatory condition for diagnosis is the examination and examination of other parts of the body where similar elements can be located. Many patients are not aware of their presence. As a secondary neoplasm, the compaction may not be manifested by certain symptoms and does not disturb. Multiple pathological foci are a specific feature of this form of cancer.

Dermatoscopy

This is another non-invasive way to diagnose melanoma. It is absolutely painless, so you should not be afraid of medical manipulation.

During the procedure, the doctor receives information about the thickness of the tumor, determining its size with a special tool - a micrometer. Even small formations, the size of which is not more than 1 mm, are subjected to the investigation.

Analysis of venous and capillary blood

On the analysis of blood, one can learn much about the state of the body. All cancer cells produce specific proteins. These are the so-called oncomarkers. In the body of a healthy person they are absent.

In the case of melanoma in the laboratory, sensitivity to the protein oncomarker S-100 is determined. Its high concentration in the blood indicates not only the correctly preset diagnosis, but also the progression of the pathological process. It is about the presence in the body of metastases, the defeat of other systems of internal organs. At the stage of treatment with the help of such an analysis the doctor checks the correctness of the chosen tactics of therapy, the degree of its effectiveness.

In our country, the diagnosis of melanoma by determining the concentration in blood of oncomarkers is only paid. The cost of the survey is quite high, which is justified by almost 100% accurate results.

Application of radioactive phosphorus

Differential diagnosis of melanoma is carried out with the help of reactive phosphorus. It is based on the effect on the pathological focus of disubstituted sodium phosphate, labeled with a radioactive phosphorus component. To the patient the doctor suggests to drink a preparation in the morning and necessarily on an empty stomach. Then, by contact radiometry, the concentration of isotopes in the seal localization zone is determined. The level of the "criterion of malignancy" for melanoma is a threefold excess of the isotope accumulation over the tumor, if we compare this indicator with the area of healthy skin.

Confocal microscopy

This non-invasive variant of the diagnosis of skin melanoma can reveal the problem at the initial stage of its development. It is carried out with the use of a confocal microscopic apparatus with a low concentration of infrared ray streams. The dose used is negligible, so it is not capable of harming the human body. The microscope examines the outer and inner epithelial layers and is even considered an improved version of the virtual biopsy.

MRI and CT

An important stage in the fight against any cancer disease is the early detection of metastases. The thing is that the spread of pathological foci in the body most often increases the likelihood of a relapse and reduces the prognosis for a speedy recovery to zero. For this purpose, MRI and CT are used today.

Magnetic resonance imaging is based on the use of strong magnets and radioactive wave flows. Thanks to this, it is possible to obtain a picture both in longitudinal and transverse position. Computer tomography also allows to detect the presence of metastases. However, her help is usually resorted to at the stage of the assumption, when the fact of the spread of pathological foci along the body has not yet been confirmed.

Biopsy

At an early stage, melanoma is difficult to recognize visually. The biopsy allows you to study the elements of the neoplasm and determine the degree of its malignancy. During the procedure, the doctor takes the tumor cells, and then examines them under a microscope. Sometimes you need to remove a suspicious skin completely.

If the malignant process is confirmed, not only the melanoma itself is removed, but also the adjacent tissues. When its thickness exceeds 1 mm, it is necessary to excise the guard nodes. Such formations tend to metastasize. The pathological process begins precisely in the guard nodes. They are also examined under a microscope. If a cancer specialist does not detect them, the diagnosis of the lymphatic system is completed. Otherwise, additional methods of treatment (for example, chemotherapy) are prescribed.

Self-diagnosis of ailment

The method of self-diagnosis of skin melanoma can not be considered a reliable method of detecting the disease. On the other hand, do not take into account it is also not worth it. Continuous monitoring of the health condition increases the likelihood of timely detection of the problem.

You can recognize the oncological process by the following symptoms:

1. The appearance of new pigment spots or moles on the body.
2. Changing the color of the nevus, the appearance of itching.
3. Discoloration of pigment is a characteristic feature of cell mutation.
4. Change the boundaries of moles. They can lose their former clarity, become blurred and uneven.

Early diagnosis of melanoma is the key to successful treatment. Therefore, if you see one or more symptoms from the list above, you should immediately seek help from a dermatologist. If the family has already been diagnosed with cases of this disease, it is necessary to pay special attention to the condition of the skin.

Patient's opinions

What do real patients say about the diagnosis of melanoma? Reviews about this procedure are various. Our article lists only the most common ways of detecting pathology. In this case, the choice of a specific variant of the examination is always left for the doctor.

Positive feedback is associated with non-invasive techniques. In this case, patients do not experience discomfort, and the procedures themselves are absolutely painless. However, they are informative only at the initial stage of pathology development.

Negative opinions, as a rule, occur after a biopsy. Indeed, this is an unpleasant procedure that is conducted under anesthesia. On the other hand, with its help it is possible to reliably determine the degree of malignancy of the process.

Recommended treatment

Both diagnosis and treatment of melanoma should not be ignored. After confirming the neoplasm, you should immediately start therapy. The tactics of treatment depend on the stage of the pathological process. For example, an operation is performed at an early stage. During surgery, the doctor removes melanoma, adjacent to a distance of 1-3 cm tissue and subcutaneous fat. The method of cryodestruction with this disease is not applied.

If metastases were detected after contacting the clinic for the diagnosis of melanoma, the treatment is reduced to carrying out irradiation and taking chemotherapy (Tamoxifen, Carmustin). It's quite toxic, but you can not do without using them. In parallel, immunotherapy is mandatory.

How to prevent ailment?

Prevention of any cancer disease is the timely detection of it. The International Day of Melanoma Diagnosis is annually held on 23 May. On the territory of our country in most cities, he is given much attention. For example, on this day it is possible to pass a free examination of moles and nevi on the body, to learn about the degree of their malignancy. In addition, many specialized medical centers hold meetings with doctors and specialists who tell about the disease and answer the questions of listeners.

It is not so simple to prevent melanoma development alone. Doctors call in the summer to use skin protective agents that prevent the penetration of UV rays. From sunbathing it is better to refuse in the period from 12 to 16 hours. You need to be more attentive to yourself. It is quite easy to periodically inspect the body, identify new formations on the skin and monitor the condition of the existing moles.

If there is any doubt, it is better to visit an oncologist or dermatologist. Also do not forget that May 23 is the day of diagnosis of melanoma, when everyone can undergo a free examination. According to its results, and only if necessary, the specialist will always send for further examination.