The basis for successful treatment of the disease is its timely diagnosis. Especially this statement justifies itself in tumor pathologies, when literally every second counts. One such problem is melanoma. Every year, this cancer is only getting younger. The sooner the doctor can identify him, the higher the chances of a favorable prognosis. In today's article, we will dwell in more detail on the main methods for diagnosing melanoma, as well as talk about the options for its treatment.
Medical certificate
Melanoma is a malignant neoplasm in nature that develops in skin fragments of tissues. It is formed from melanocytes - cells responsible for the release of pigment by reproduction of this element. The most vulnerable are those parts of the body that are difficult to protect from ultraviolet radiation. It is about the face, trunk and limbs. Melanoma can form on the site of a pre-existing nevus or spread to completely healthy fragments of the epithelium.
An important feature of the pathological process is the almost complete absence of an immune response. Therefore, the tumor is rapidly developing and increasing in size. Every year, about 100 thousand people are diagnosed with it. In our country, there is a tendency to an increase in incidence. Moreover, most often melanoma affects people aged 75 to 85 years. It significantly reduces life expectancy and can be fatal.
According to medical statistics, in approximately 75% of cases, it is possible to detect this ailment at the initial stage of development. This is possible not only due to the pronounced clinical picture. A certain role in the detection process belongs to the timely diagnosis of melanoma. It can be distinguished from other types of skin cancers visually. However, to draw up a treatment program, it is necessary to know a maximum of information about the tumor. Diagnosis allows you to determine the degree and stage of the pathological process, make a forecast, find metastases, etc. Next, we will dwell on its main options in more detail.
Medical history
A medical history is the primary stage in the diagnosis of almost all pathologies. It means studying the patient’s medical history and collecting information. Based on the results of a kind of survey, a specialist will be able to make a preliminary diagnosis and, taking into account the conclusion, prescribe a further examination.
An oncologist is engaged in melanoma. At the first appointment, he always interviews the patient about the symptoms that concern him. To clarify the clinical picture, the oncologist can ask a number of clarifying questions: when the focus of inflammation appeared, the influence of what factors preceded its development, etc.
Diagnosing melanoma also involves examining a genetic predisposition. It is important for the physician to know whether cases of a similar disease have been recorded in other family members. The thing is that most oncological pathologies have a hereditary character.
Physical examination
During a detailed study of the clinical manifestations of the tumor, the specialist gives a qualitative assessment of its main parameters:
- the size;
- structural content;
- borders;
- color pigment;
- surface texture.
The doctor also palpates the inguinal, axillary and cervical lymph nodes. If melanoma metastases, its pathological foci primarily spread to neighboring lymph nodes. Their increase in size is a clear symptom of cancer.
If malignant oncology is suspected, a mandatory condition for diagnosis is the study and examination of other parts of the body where similar elements can be located. Many patients are not even aware of their presence. Being a secondary neoplasm, compaction may not manifest itself with certain symptoms and not disturb. Multiple pathological foci are a specific feature of this form of cancer.
Dermatoscopy
This is another non-invasive way to diagnose melanoma. It is absolutely painless, so you should not be afraid of medical manipulations.
During the procedure, the doctor receives information about the thickness of the tumor, determining its size with a special tool - a micrometer. Even small formations are examined, the size of which is even no more than 1 mm.
Venous and capillary blood test
From a blood test, you can learn a lot about the condition of the body. All cancer cells produce specific proteins. These are the so-called tumor markers. In the body of a healthy person, they are absent.
In the case of melanoma, the sensitivity to the S-100 protein tumor marker is determined in laboratory conditions. Its high concentration in the blood indicates not only the correct preliminary diagnosis, but also the progression of the pathological process. We are talking about the presence of metastases in the body, the defeat of other systems of internal organs. At the stage of treatment, using such an analysis, the doctor checks the correctness of the chosen tactics of therapy, the degree of its effectiveness.
In our country, the diagnosis of melanoma by determining the concentration in the blood of tumor markers is carried out only for a fee. The cost of the examination is quite high, which is justified by almost 100% accurate result.
The use of radioactive phosphorus
Differential diagnosis of melanoma is carried out using reactive phosphorus. It is based on exposure to a pathological lesion with disubstituted sodium phosphate labeled with a radioactive phosphorus component. The doctor suggests the patient to drink the drug in the morning and always on an empty stomach. Then, by means of contact radiometry, the concentration of isotopes in the localization zone of the compaction is determined. The level of the "malignancy criterion" for melanomas is considered to be a three-fold excess of isotope accumulation over the tumor, if this indicator is compared with a section of healthy skin.
Confocal microscopy
This non-invasive option for diagnosing skin melanoma allows you to identify the problem at the initial stage of its development. It is carried out using a confocal microscopic apparatus with a low concentration of infrared radiation fluxes. The used dose of radiation is negligible, therefore, it is not able to harm the human body. The microscope examines the external and internal epithelial layers and is even considered an improved version of virtual biopsy.
MRI and CT
An important step in the fight against any cancer is the early detection of metastases. The thing is that it is the spread of pathological foci throughout the body that most often increases the likelihood of relapse and nullifies the prognosis for a speedy recovery. For this purpose, MRI and CT are used today.
Magnetic resonance imaging is based on the use of strong magnets and radioactive wave flows. Thanks to this, it is possible to obtain a picture both in the longitudinal and transverse positions. Computed tomography also reveals the presence of metastases. However, her help is usually resorted to at the assumption stage, when the fact of the spread of pathological foci throughout the body has not yet been confirmed.
Biopsy
At an early stage, melanoma is difficult to recognize visually. A biopsy allows you to study the elements of the neoplasm and determine the degree of its malignancy. During the procedure, the doctor takes the tumor cells, and then examines them under a microscope. Sometimes it is required to remove a suspicious area of the skin completely.
If the malignant process is confirmed, not only melanoma itself, but also adjacent tissues should be removed. When its thickness exceeds 1 mm, be sure to excise the watch nodes. Such formations tend to metastasize. The pathological process begins precisely in the watch nodes. They are also examined under a microscope. If the specialist does not detect cancerous elements in them, the diagnosis of the lymphatic system is completed. Otherwise, additional treatment methods are prescribed (for example, chemotherapy).
Self-recognition of ailment
The method of self-diagnosis of skin melanoma cannot be considered a reliable way to identify the disease. On the other hand, not to take it into account is also not worth it. Constant monitoring of your health increases the likelihood of timely detection of a problem.
The oncological process can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- The appearance of new age spots or moles on the body.
- Change in color of the nevus, the occurrence of itching.
- Pigment discoloration is a characteristic feature of cell mutation.
- Change the boundaries of moles. They can lose their former clarity, become blurry and uneven.
Early diagnosis of melanoma is the key to successful treatment. Therefore, if one or more of the symptoms from the list above appears, you should immediately consult a dermatologist for help. If the family has already been diagnosed with cases of this disease, it is necessary to pay special attention to the condition of the skin.
Patient opinions
What do real patients say about diagnosing melanoma? Reviews about this procedure are different. Our article lists only the most common methods for detecting pathology. In this case, the choice of a specific examination option always remains with the doctor.
Positive reviews are associated with non-invasive techniques. At the same time, patients do not experience discomfort, and the procedures themselves are absolutely painless. However, they are informative only at the initial stage of the development of pathology.
Negative opinions usually occur after a biopsy. Indeed, this is an unpleasant procedure that is performed under general anesthesia. On the other hand, with its help it is possible to reliably determine the degree of malignancy of the process.
Recommended treatment
Both the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma should not be ignored. After confirmation of the neoplasm, it is necessary to immediately begin therapy. The tactics of treatment depend on the stage of the pathological process. For example, an operation is performed at an early stage. During surgery, the doctor removes the melanoma adjacent to the tissue at a distance of 1-3 cm and subcutaneous fat. The cryodestruction method is not used for this disease.
If metastases have been detected after going to the clinic for the diagnosis of melanoma, the treatment is reduced to irradiation and chemotherapy (Tamoxifen, Karmustin). These are quite toxic agents, but you can’t do without them. In parallel, immunotherapy is mandatory.
How to prevent ailment?
Prevention of any cancer is its timely detection. International Day for the Diagnosis of Melanoma is held annually on May 23. On the territory of our country in most cities they pay a lot of attention. For example, on this day you can undergo a free examination of moles and nevuses on the body, find out about the degree of their malignancy. In addition, in many specialized medical centers, meetings are held with doctors and narrow specialists who talk about this disease and answer questions from listeners.
Self-prevent the development of melanoma is not so simple. Doctors urge in the summer to use skin protection products that prevent the penetration of UV rays. It is better to refuse sunbathing from 12 to 16 hours. You need to be more careful about yourself. It is not difficult to periodically inspect the body, identify new skin lesions and monitor the condition of existing moles.
If in doubt, it is best to visit an oncologist or dermatologist. Also, do not forget that May 23 is the day of diagnosis of melanoma, when everyone can undergo a free examination. According to its results and only if necessary, a specialized specialist will always send for further examination.