1.What are the early symptoms of melanoma?
Early-stage melanoma manifests as new pigmented skin lesions or changes in existing moles.
2.How can melanoma be distinguished from a common mole?
Common nevi (moles) are symmetrical, have well-defined borders, uniform color, and stable size.Melanomas are often asymmetrical, have irregular borders, variegated color, and tend to enlarge.Common nevi are generally smaller than 6 mm.
3.What are the surgical treatment options for melanoma?
Early-stage melanoma is treated with wide local excision, with margins determined by tumor thickness.Sentinel lymph node assessment is used to check for metastasis;lymph node dissection is performed if metastasis is present.
4.What is minimally invasive treatment for melanoma?
Early-stage superficial melanoma can be removed via excisional biopsy under local anesthesia.Small melanoma in situ can be treated with wide local excision.Sentinel lymph node assessment is a precise, minimally invasive method for evaluating lymph node status.
5.What are the immunotherapy options for melanoma?
Immunotherapies such as the PD-1 antibodies pembrolizumab and nivolumab are important treatments for advanced melanoma.The CTLA-4 inhibitor ipilimumab may also be used.
6.Which patients are suitable for targeted therapy for melanoma?
Patients with BRAF mutations can be treated with a combination of BRAF inhibitors and MEK inhibitors.The V600E mutation is the most common type.Targeted therapy acts quickly and can rapidly shrink the tumor.
7.How to prevent melanoma?
Avoid excessive sun exposure and use sunscreen. Regularly examine the skin and monitor for changes in moles.Do not have moles removed casually or via laser treatment without professional assessment.High-risk individuals should undergo regular dermatological check-ups.
