What is the method for detecting melanoma

What are the clinical examination methods for melanoma? Melanoma occurs more often in middle-aged and elderly people, and is more common in men than in women. It is more common in the lower limbs and feet, followed by the trunk, head and neck, and upper limbs. In the early stages, the pigmented area will spread to the surrounding normal skin; the surface characteristics will change, and the texture and shape will change; especially the skin around the mole will have an inflammatory reaction, which may be manifested by blood, ulcers, itching or pain.

Clinically, the examination methods for melanoma include:

X-ray examination:

Chest X-ray should be performed for possible, asymptomatic lung metastases. If metastases are indicated, lung tomography or CT scan should be used to confirm.

Pathological examination:

It is a reliable means of diagnosing melanoma and the main method of differential diagnosis. When conditions permit, suspicious lesions should be removed including the entire thickness of the tumor and the infiltrated tissues of all layers of the skin, and a biopsy should be performed to obtain a pathological diagnosis. Avoid needle aspiration, scraping, forceps extraction, incision or punching biopsy to prevent the spread of lesions.

CT examination:

A head CT scan should be performed for suspected brain metastases.

Electron microscopy examination:

Melanosomes in malignant melanoma at different stages of development can be observed, which are characteristic and can be identified with other tumor cells and melanophages. Observation of immunoenzyme label (S-100), monoclonal antibody HMB-45 and flow cytometric DNA analysis are of diagnostic value for confirming malignant melanoma.

Serum alkaline phosphatase or lactate dehydrogenase measurement:

It helps to evaluate possible liver involvement. Patients with increased or weight loss, anorexia, upper abdominal pain, etc. should undergo liver ultrasound and abdominal CT scan.

In addition to the above methods that can help detect melanoma, patients with localized bone pain should also undergo serum alkaline phosphatase testing or bone scanning; if clinical gastrointestinal symptoms accompanied by anemia occur, gastrointestinal endoscopy and X-ray barium meal examinations should be performed.