Melanomas
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Melanomas
Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer; it develops from the melanin-producing cells known as melanocytes. It typically occurs in the skin, but may rarely occur in the mouth, intestines, or eye (uveal melanoma). In very rare cases melanoma can also happen in the lung which is known as primary pulmonary melanoma and only happens in 0.01% of primary lung tumors. In women, melanomas most commonly occur on the legs; while in men, on the back. Melanoma is frequently referred to as malignant melanoma. However, the medical community stresses that there is no such thing as a 'benign melanoma' and recommends that the term 'malignant melanoma' should be avoided as redundant. About 25% of melanomas develop from moles. Changes in a mole that can indicate melanoma include increaseespecially rapid increasein size, irregular edges, change in color, itchiness, or skin breakdown. The primary cause of melanoma is ultraviolet light (UV) exposure in those with low levels of the ...
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Uveal Melanoma
Uveal melanoma is a type of eye cancer in the uvea of the eye. It is traditionally classed as originating in the iris, choroid, and ciliary body, but can also be divided into class I (low metastatic risk) and class II (high metastatic risk). Symptoms include blurred vision, loss of vision, and photopsia, but there may be no symptoms. Tumors arise from the pigment cells that reside within the uvea and give color to the eye. These melanocytes are distinct from the retinal pigment epithelium cells underlying the retina that do not form melanomas. When eye melanoma is spread to distant parts of the body, the five-year survival rate is about 15%.Eye Cancer Survival Rates
American Cancer Society, Last Medical Review: December 9, 2014 Last Revised: February 5, 2016
It is the most co ...
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Skin Cancer
Skin cancers are cancers that arise from the Human skin, skin. They are due to the development of abnormal cells (biology), cells that have the ability to invade or metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. It occurs when skin cells grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors. The primary cause of skin cancer is prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning devices. Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in humans. There are three main types of skin cancers: basal-cell skin cancer (BCC), squamous-cell skin cancer (SCC) and melanoma. The first two, along with a number of less common skin cancers, are known as nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Basal-cell cancer grows slowly and can damage the tissue around it but is unlikely to spread to distant areas or result in death. It often appears as a painless raised area of skin that may be shiny with telangiectasia, small blood vessels running over it or may present as a raised area wit ...
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Seborrheic Keratosis
A seborrheic keratosis is a non-cancerous ( benign) skin tumour that originates from cells, namely keratinocytes, in the outer layer of the skin called the epidermis. Like liver spots, seborrheic keratoses are seen more often as people age. The tumours (also called lesions) appear in various colours, from light tan to black. They are round or oval, feel flat or slightly elevated, like the scab from a healing wound, and range in size from very small to more than across. They are often associated with other skin conditions, including basal cell carcinoma. Sometimes, seborrheic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma occur at the same location. At clinical examination, a differential diagnosis considers warts and melanomas. Because only the top layers of the epidermis are involved, seborrheic keratoses are often described as having a "pasted-on" appearance. Some dermatologists refer to seborrheic keratoses as "seborrheic warts", because they resemble warts, but strictly speaking, ...
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Nevus
Nevus () is a nonspecific medical terminology, medical term for a visible, circumscribed, chronic (medicine), chronic lesion of the skin or mucosa. The term originates from , which is Latin for "birthmark"; however, a nevus can be either congenital (present at birth) or acquired. Common terms (''mole'', ''birthmark'', ''beauty mark'', etc.) are used to describe nevi, but these terms do not distinguish specific types of nevi from one another. Classification The term ''nevus'' is applied to a number of conditions caused by Neoplasm, neoplasias and hyperplasias of melanocytes, as well as a number of pigmentation disorders, both hypermelanotic (containing increased melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color) and hypomelanotic (containing decreased melanin). Suspicious skin moles which are multi-colored or pink may be a finding in skin cancer. Increased melanin Usually acquired * Melanocytic nevus ** Melanocytic nevi can be categorized based on the location of melanocytic ...
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Blue Nevus
A blue nevus is a type of coloured mole, typically a single well-defined blue-black bump. The blue colour is caused by the pigment being deep in the skin. Diagnosis is by visualisation and dermoscopy. A biopsy is sometimes performed, or the whole lesion surgically removed. The outcome is generally good but there is a small chance of cancerous transformation. Differential diagnosis includes dermatofibroma and melanoma. Blue nevi are more common in females than males. It was first studied in 1906 by Tièche, a student of Josef Jadassohn. Classification Blue nevi may be divided into the following types: * A ''patch blue nevus'' (also known as an "acquired dermal melanocytosis", and "dermal melanocyte hamartoma") is a cutaneous condition characterized by a diffusely gray-blue area that may have superimposed darker macules. * A ''blue nevus of Jadassohn–Tièche'' (also known as a "common blue nevus", and "nevus ceruleus") is a cutaneous condition characterized by a steel ...
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Nevus
Nevus () is a nonspecific medical terminology, medical term for a visible, circumscribed, chronic (medicine), chronic lesion of the skin or mucosa. The term originates from , which is Latin for "birthmark"; however, a nevus can be either congenital (present at birth) or acquired. Common terms (''mole'', ''birthmark'', ''beauty mark'', etc.) are used to describe nevi, but these terms do not distinguish specific types of nevi from one another. Classification The term ''nevus'' is applied to a number of conditions caused by Neoplasm, neoplasias and hyperplasias of melanocytes, as well as a number of pigmentation disorders, both hypermelanotic (containing increased melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color) and hypomelanotic (containing decreased melanin). Suspicious skin moles which are multi-colored or pink may be a finding in skin cancer. Increased melanin Usually acquired * Melanocytic nevus ** Melanocytic nevi can be categorized based on the location of melanocytic ...
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Melanocyte
Melanocytes are melanin-producing neural-crest, neural crest-derived cell (biology), cells located in the bottom layer (the stratum basale) of the skin's epidermis (skin), epidermis, the middle layer of the eye (the uvea), the inner ear, vaginal epithelium, meninges, bones, and heart found in many mammals and birds. Melanin is a dark pigment primarily responsible for skin color. Once synthesized, melanin is contained in special organelles called melanosomes which can be transported to nearby keratinocytes to induce pigmentation. Thus darker skin tones have more melanosomes present than lighter skin tones. Functionally, melanin serves as protection against Ultraviolet, UV radiation. Melanocytes also have a role in the immune system. Function Through a process called melanogenesis, melanocytes produce melanin, which is a pigment found in the human skin, skin, human eye, eyes, hair, nasal cavity, and inner ear. This melanogenesis leads to a long-lasting pigmentation, which i ...
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Sunscreen
Sunscreen, also known as sunblock, sun lotion or sun cream, is a photoprotection, photoprotective topical product for the Human skin, skin that helps protect against sunburn and prevent skin cancer. Sunscreens come as lotions, sprays, gels, foams (such as an expanded foam lotion or whipped lotion), sticks, powders and other topical products. Sunscreens are common supplements to clothing, particularly sunglasses, sunhats and special sun protective clothing, and other forms of photoprotection (such as umbrellas). Sunscreens may be classified according to the type of #Active_ingredients, active ingredient(s) present in the formulation (inorganic compounds or organic compound, organic molecules) as: * Mineral sunscreens (also referred to as physical), which use only inorganic compounds (zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide) as active ingredients. These ingredients primarily work by absorbing UV rays but also through reflection and refraction. * Chemical sunscreens, which use organic ...
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Lentigo
A lentigo () (plural lentigines, ) is a small pigmented spot on the skin with a clearly defined edge, surrounded by normal-appearing skin. It is a harmless (benign) hyperplasia of melanocytes which is linear in its spread. This means the hyperplasia of melanocytes is restricted to the cell layer directly above the basement membrane of the epidermis where melanocytes normally reside. This is in contrast to the "nests" of multi-layer melanocytes found in moles (melanocytic nevi). Because of this characteristic feature, the adjective "lentiginous" is used to describe other skin lesions that similarly proliferate linearly within the basal cell layer.''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.'' Random House, Inc. 2001. p. 1101. .''Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease'' Elsevier. 2005. p. 1232. . Diagnosis Conditions characterized by lentigines include: * Lentigo simplex * Solar lentigo (Liver spots) * PUVA lentigines * Ink spot lentigo * LEOPARD syndrome * Muc ...
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Sunscreen
Sunscreen, also known as sunblock, sun lotion or sun cream, is a photoprotection, photoprotective topical product for the Human skin, skin that helps protect against sunburn and prevent skin cancer. Sunscreens come as lotions, sprays, gels, foams (such as an expanded foam lotion or whipped lotion), sticks, powders and other topical products. Sunscreens are common supplements to clothing, particularly sunglasses, sunhats and special sun protective clothing, and other forms of photoprotection (such as umbrellas). Sunscreens may be classified according to the type of #Active_ingredients, active ingredient(s) present in the formulation (inorganic compounds or organic compound, organic molecules) as: * Mineral sunscreens (also referred to as physical), which use only inorganic compounds (zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide) as active ingredients. These ingredients primarily work by absorbing UV rays but also through reflection and refraction. * Chemical sunscreens, which use organic ...
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Lymph Nodes
A lymph node, or lymph gland, is a kidney-shaped Organ (anatomy), organ of the lymphatic system and the adaptive immune system. A large number of lymph nodes are linked throughout the body by the lymphatic vessels. They are major sites of lymphocytes that include B cell, B and T cells. Lymph nodes are important for the proper functioning of the immune system, acting as filters for foreign particles including cancer cells, but have no detoxification function. In the lymphatic system, a lymph node is a Lymphatic system#Secondary lymphoid organs, secondary lymphoid organ. A lymph node is enclosed in a fibrous capsule and is made up of an outer cortex and an inner medulla. Lymph nodes become inflamed or enlarged in various diseases, which may range from trivial Pharyngitis, throat infections to life-threatening cancers. The condition of lymph nodes is very important in cancer staging, which decides the treatment to be used and determines the prognosis. Lymphadenopathy refers to gland ...
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Biopsy
A biopsy is a medical test commonly performed by a surgeon, interventional radiologist, an interventional radiologist, or an interventional cardiology, interventional cardiologist. The process involves the extraction of sampling (medicine), sample Cell (biology), cells or Biological tissue, tissues for examination to determine the presence or extent of a disease. The tissue is then Histopathology, fixed, dehydrated, embedded, sectioned, stained and mounted before it is generally examined under a microscope by a pathologist; it may also be analyzed chemically. When an entire lump or suspicious area is removed, the procedure is called an excisional biopsy. An incisional biopsy or core biopsy samples a portion of the abnormal tissue without attempting to remove the entire lesion or tumor. When a sample of tissue or fluid is removed with a needle in such a way that cells are removed without preserving the histological architecture of the tissue cells, the procedure is called a needle as ...
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