Melanoma

Medium urgency
CommonModerately severe

Melanoma is a type of malignant skin tumor.

It is associated with a genetic predisposition and exposure to the sun (UVA and UVB ultraviolet rays). It is the most aggressive of all skin tumors. 

It usually manifests as a mole that changes color, size and/or shape, with irregular borders and different shades of color.

It is diagnosed by clinical history, skin examination and biopsy.

The treatment is surgery, with good results if detected and removed in superficial stages. In certain types or if the disease has spread, immunotherapy acting at the molecular level is performed.

Bibliographic references
  1. Susan Swetter. Clinical features and diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma. UpToDate. Noviembre 2015
  2. Alan C Geller. Screening and early detection of melanoma. UpToDate. Octubre 2016
  3. Michael Stone. Initial surgical management of melanoma of the skin and unusual sites. Junio 2016
  4. Paek SC. Cutaneous melanoma. In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, 7th, Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, et al. (Eds), McGraw Hill Medical, New York 2008. Vol I, p.1134.
  5. Walter J. Urba. Cáncer de la piel. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna, 19e. Capítulo 105
Author
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    Skin lesion has a different color from the rest of the skin


    Mole or freckle on the skin


    Mole has irregular edges


    Enlarged mole


    Mole with dark pigmentation