Melanoma: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

Home Melanoma: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

Melanoma: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

A 52-year-old man has an enlarging 8-mm pigmented back lesion that is asymmetric with irregular borders and variegated color; excisional biopsy confirms melanoma. Which pathologic feature most determines his prognosis and staging?

A. Lesion surface diameter
B. Degree of color variegation
C. Breslow depth (tumor thickness)
D. Presence of overlying hair
E. Patient age at diagnosis

Answer and topic summary

The answer is C. Breslow depth (tumor thickness).

Breslow depth – the tumor thickness in millimeters from the granular layer to its deepest cell – is the single most important prognostic factor; it drives T staging, the width of the definitive wide local excision, and whether a sentinel lymph node biopsy is offered. Ulceration and mitotic rate refine staging, but thickness leads. Surface diameter and color variegation are part of the ABCDEs that raise suspicion but do not set prognosis, and age is only a minor modifier.

View blueprint lesson

Smarty PANCE Content Blueprint Review:

Covered under ⇒ PANCE Blueprint Dermatology ⇒ Dermatologic Neoplasms ⇒ Melanoma

Sign up for the ENTIRE Blueprint Daily Email Series (1000 daily questions. . . and counting! 😀)

Sign Up
X

Have you tried the NEW Smarty PANCE QBANK? It's FREE with EVERY membership purchase 😀!

Meet the new QBank! 👈
X