Melanoma Melanoma occurs most often in the skin. The classic patient at risk for melanoma has fair skin, freckles and red hair, and is prone to sunburn. Once a suspicious lesion is found, histologic analysis is needed to confirm melanoma.
Specimen quality is important.
The biopsy must represent the lesion's full thickness and its level of invasion. Biopsy and pathologic interpretation are necessary for proper staging, because clinical staging can be highly inaccurate. Prognosis Melanoma can metastasize to almost any organ or tissue. Key prognostic factors include tumor thickness, regional lymph node metastases, dermal or subcutaneous metastases and distant metastases. Treatment Melanoma is treated mainly with surgery.