Melanoma
Dermatology · ~4% of blueprint- Pathophysiology
- Malignant transformation of melanocytes (UV exposure a major risk); can metastasize early.
- Signs & Symptoms
- Pigmented lesion with ABCDE features — Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter >6 mm, Evolving.
- Gold Standard Diagnosis
- Full-thickness excisional biopsy; Breslow depth is the key prognostic factor.
- First-line Treatment
- Wide local excision (margins by depth); sentinel node biopsy / immunotherapy for advanced disease.
High-Yield Pearl
Breslow depth drives prognosis; use the ABCDEs to flag suspicious lesions for excisional biopsy.
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Immunology & Genetics
Sources
Reviewed September 2026- Melanoma clinical guideline (highlights of Guidelines of care for the management of primary cutaneous melanoma, 2019) — American Academy of Dermatology, 2026
- StatPearls: Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma: Guideline-Based Management and Interprofessional Collaboration (AAD/NCCN/ESMO/CCA summary) — StatPearls Publishing, 2026
- StatPearls: Malignant Melanoma — StatPearls Publishing, 2026
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