The basis of 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 only gets younger. The sooner the doctor is able to identify it, 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 its treatment options.
Medical certificate
Melanoma is a naturally malignant neoplasm that develops in skin tissue fragments. It is formed from melanocytes - cells responsible for the release of pigment by reproducing this element. The most vulnerable are those parts of the body that are difficult to protect from ultraviolet radiation. We are talking about the face, torso and limbs. melanoma canform on the site of a pre-existing nevus or spread to completely he althy fragments of the epithelium.
An important feature of the pathological process is the almost complete absence of an immune response. Therefore, the tumor rapidly develops and increases in size. Approximately 100,000 people are diagnosed with it every year. In our country, there is a tendency to increase the incidence. Melanoma most often affects people between the ages of 75 and 85. It significantly reduces life expectancy and can be fatal.
According to medical statistics, in approximately 75% of cases it is possible to detect this disease at an early 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 visually distinguished from other types of skin cancers. However, in order to draw up a treatment program, it is necessary to know as much information about the tumor as possible. Diagnostics allows you to determine the degree and stage of the pathological process, make a prognosis, find metastases, etc. Next, we will dwell on its main options in more detail.
History taking
Acquisition of anamnesis is the primary stage in the diagnosis of almost all pathologies. It involves studying the patient's medical history and collecting information. According to the results of a kind of survey, the specialist will be able to make a preliminary diagnosis and, taking into account the conclusion, prescribe a further examination.
Melanoma involvedoncologist. At the first appointment, he necessarily interrogates the patient about the symptoms that disturb him. To clarify the clinical picture, the oncologist can ask a number of clarifying questions: when did the focus of inflammation appear, what factors influenced its development, etc.
Diagnosis of melanoma also involves the study of genetic predisposition. It is important for the doctor to know whether cases of a similar disease have been recorded in other family members. The thing is that most oncological pathologies are hereditary.
Physical examination
During a detailed study of the clinical manifestations of a tumor, a specialist gives a qualitative assessment of its main parameters:
- size;
- structural content;
- borders;
- color pigment;
- surface texture.
Also, the doctor performs palpation of the inguinal, axillary and cervical lymph nodes. If melanoma metastasizes, 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 prerequisite for diagnosis is the study and examination of other parts of the body where similar elements may be located. Many patients are not even aware of their presence. Being a secondary neoplasm, the compaction may not manifest itself with certain symptoms and does not bother. 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, the size of which is not even more than 1 mm, are subjected to research.
Venous and capillary blood analysis
By a blood test, you can learn a lot about the state of the body. All cancer cells produce specific proteins. These are the so-called tumor markers. In the body of a he althy person, they are absent.
In the case of melanoma, sensitivity to the protein oncomarker S-100 is determined in the laboratory. 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 in the body of metastases, 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 therapy tactics, the degree of its effectiveness.
In our country, the diagnosis of melanoma by determining the concentration of tumor markers in the blood is carried out only for a fee. The cost of the examination is quite high, which is justified by the almost 100% accurate result.
The use of radioactive phosphorus
Differential diagnosis of melanoma is carried out using reactive phosphorus. It is based on the effect on the pathological focus of 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 seal is determined. The level of the "criterion of malignancy" for melanomas is considered to be three times the excess of the accumulation of the isotope over the tumor, if we compare this indicator with a he althy skin area.
Microscopy confocal
This non-invasive diagnostic option for skin melanoma allows you to identify the problem at the initial stage of its development. It is carried out using a confocal microscope apparatus with a low concentration of infrared beam fluxes. The radiation dose used is negligible, so it is not capable of harming the human body. The microscope examines the outer and inner epithelial layers and is even considered an advanced version of the 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 currents. Thanks to this, it is possible to obtain an image both in the longitudinal and transverse positions. Computed tomography can also detect the presence ofmetastasis. However, its help is usually resorted to at the stage of assumption, 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 collects tumor cells and then examines them under a microscope. Sometimes it is necessary to remove a suspicious area of skin completely.
If the malignant process is confirmed, not only the melanoma itself, but also adjacent tissues are to be removed. When its thickness exceeds 1 mm, it is necessary to excise the sentinel nodes. Such formations tend to metastasize. The pathological process begins precisely in the sentinel nodes. They are also examined under a microscope. If the specialist does not find cancerous elements in them, the diagnosis of the lymphatic system is completed. Otherwise, additional treatments (such as chemotherapy) are prescribed.
Self-recognition of illness
The method of self-diagnosis of skin melanoma cannot be considered a reliable way to detect the disease. On the other hand, it should not be ignored either. Constant he alth monitoring increases the likelihood of timely detection of a problem.
You can recognize the oncological process by the following symptoms:
- The appearance of new age spots or moles on the body.
- Nevus discoloration, itching.
- Pigment discoloration is a characteristic sign of cellular mutation.
- Changing the borders of moles. They may 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 appear, you should immediately seek help from a dermatologist. If cases of this disease have already been diagnosed in the family, it is necessary to pay special attention to the condition of the skin.
Patient opinions
What do real patients say about melanoma diagnosis? Reviews about this procedure are different. Our article lists only the most common ways to detect pathology. At the same time, 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 pathology development.
Negative opinions are usually found after a biopsy. Indeed, this is an unpleasant procedure that is performed under anesthesia. On the other hand, it can be used 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. Tacticstreatment depends on the stage of the pathological process. For example, at an early stage, an operation is performed. During surgery, the doctor removes melanoma, adjacent tissues at a distance of 1-3 cm, and subcutaneous fat. The cryodestruction method is not used for this disease.
If metastases were detected after going to the clinic for the diagnosis of melanoma, treatment is reduced to radiation and chemotherapy (Tamoxifen, Karmustine). These are quite toxic agents, but one cannot do without their use. In parallel, immunotherapy is mandatory.
How to prevent disease?
Prevention of any cancer lies in its timely detection. International Melanoma Diagnosis Day takes place on May 23 every year. On the territory of our country in most cities it is given a lot of attention. For example, on this day, you can undergo a free examination of moles and nevi on the body, learn about the degree of their malignancy. In addition, many specialized medical centers hold meetings with doctors and narrow specialists who talk about this disease and answer listeners' questions.
Preventing melanoma on your own is not easy. Doctors urge in the summer to use protective products for the skin, which prevent the penetration of UV rays. Avoid sunbathing between 12:00 and 16:00. You need to be more careful with yourself. It is not difficult to periodically examine the body,identify new formations on the skin and monitor the condition of existing moles.
When in doubt, it is better to visit an oncologist or a dermatologist. Also, do not forget that May 23 is the day of melanoma diagnosis, when everyone can get a free examination. Based on its results and only if necessary, a specialist will always refer you for further examination.
