What exactly is ulceration? Can you tell
if a mole is ulcertated by looking at it
or do you have to wait for a biopsy? My
mums possible melanoma has now started to
crust. Is crusting ulceration?
Thanks
|
MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 2268 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 46
Thanked:11
Posted: 11-27-07 05:16am
The accuracy of clinically diagnosing
melanoma is about 50 percent.
A variety of pigmented skin lesions can
simulate melanoma. Physicians should be
very suspicious of pigmented lesions; when
in question, these lesions should be
biopsied and diagnosis must be confirmed
by pathologic examination.
The external or surface changes such as
bleeding, ulceration, scaliness, crusting,
or an elevated area in a previously flat
lesion are danger signs of more advanced
melanoma.
Ulcer or ulceration is a secondary skin
lesion, changes in the skin that result
from primary skin lesions (suspected mole)
and involves loss of the upper portion of
the skin (epidermis) and part of the lower
portion (dermis).
Melanoma ulceration is the absence of an
intact epidermis (the upper skin layer we
see) overlying the primary melanoma and
has depressed center and elevated, hard
borders. At the bottom of the center of
the lesion can be seen secrets like pus or
blood. Drying of the collection of blood,
serum, or pus will result in crusting over
the ulcer, forming a scab or crust.
