Melanoma: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

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Melanoma: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

A 32-year-old female presents to your clinic complaining of a weird “spot” that has been growing bigger over the course of the past few months. On physical exam, you note an asymmetrical brownish-pink macule with an irregular border and with a diameter of 8mm. Which of the following is the most important indicator of the patient’s prognosis?

A. Width of the lesion
B. Depth of invasion
C. Rate of evolution
D. Lymph node spread
E. Genetics

Answer and topic summary

The answer is B. Depth of invasion

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and is the number 1 cause of death due to skin cancer. Risk factors include increasing age, a large number of nevi, sun exposure (especially severe sunburns <14 years old), fair complexion, and genetics. The lesion classically presents with characteristics that spell out ABCD: asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, diameter (>6 mm), and evolution. The most important indicator of a patient’s prognosis is the depth of invasion. Diagnosis is made with an excisional biopsy. Early detection is key!

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Smarty PANCE Content Blueprint Review:

Covered under ⇒ PANCE Blueprint Dermatology ⇒ Dermatologic Neoplasms ⇒ Melanoma

Also covered on the Family Medicine EOR and General Surgery EOR content topic lists

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