Superficial Spreading Melanoma (SSM)
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[edit] Superficial Spreading Melanoma (SSM)
About 70% of melanomas are of this melanoma type. They develop out of a preexisting nevus (precursor lesion), which are the brown spots that every person has a few of. There might be an incubation period of 1 to 5 years where the nevus is slowly growing , changing color, getting somewhat more raised and perhaps getting surrounded by a red line.
All those are warning signs that this nevus is dysplastic, moving towards malignant transformation. This nevus needs to be surgically removed to avoid trouble down the road. If it is not removed, the surface may become glossy and become more irregular.
Here is an image of a superficially spreading melanoma where on the left side there is a regression of the tumor, but the remainder of it is spreading.
There may be some notching or indentation at the perimeter of the lesion and the color may become deeper pigmented, at some areas even black looking. A small patch of the lesion may even turn amelanotic (amelanotic melanoma, looks skin colored). Women tend to have more of this type of melanoma. It tends to be less aggressive and has a better prognosis.
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References:
1. Cancer: Principles &Practice of Oncology, 4th edition, by V.T. De Vita,Jr., et. al J.B. Lippincott Co.,Philadelphia, 1993. Vol.2: Chapter on Cutaneous melanoma.
2. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 126, p. 843-845.
3. Cancer: Principles&Practice of Oncology. 5th edition, volume 2. Edited by Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. et al. Lippincott-Raven Publ., Philadelphia,PA, 1997. Chapter on Cutaneous melanoma.
4. SA Rosenberg et al. Ann Surg 1998 Sep 228(3): 307-319.
5. SA Rosenberg Nature 2001 May 17;411(6835):380-384.
6. T Todo et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2001 May 15 ( page not available yet).
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8. Conn's Current Therapy 2004, 56th ed., Copyright © 2004 Elsevier
9. Ferri: Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment, 2004 ed., Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc
More info on melanoma can be found through this link.
