Melanoma nevus: classification, characterization, diagnosis and treatment

What is a melanoma nevus? Not many people know the answer to this question. Although some people are still familiar with such an unpleasant phenomenon.

How does the melanoma nevus look like, what kinds of this education exist, how they are diagnosed and treated, we will tell below.

basic information

Melaniform nevi are acquired (in the process of life) or congenital birthmarks. In medical practice, such formations are often called benign tumors. Although in some cases, such moles can still develop into malignant neoplasms.

Congenital melanoma nevus usually grows slowly (in the process of development of the human body). Having reached a certain value, such birthmarks freeze.

general characteristics

Melanoform nevi are benign neoplasms that are formed during pathological abnormalities during fetal development. Despite the fact that the spots in question are most often congenital, on the human body they become noticeable only in the process of growing up.

On the body of newborns and infants, there are almost no such birthmarks. Only 4-10% of all babies can be found pigmented spots. With age, such neoplasms can not only appear, but also disappear on their own. For example, if a person under the age of 25 has about 40 birthmarks, then by the age of 30 only 15-20 of them can remain.

It should also be noted that in old age (from 80 years), there are practically no nevi on the body.

The number of such birthmarks can significantly increase at the age of 18-25 years. Also their sizes can vary.

Experts argue that the presence of a huge number of moles on the body is a sign of a high risk of melanoma. In this regard, for such neoplasms should be carefully monitored.

Kinds

Melanoma nevus is a formation that arises from altered melanocyte cells, or so-called non-carcinomas. At present, the following types of such moles are distinguished:

• Non-celled border guard. This is a simple spot that does not rise, but slightly protrudes above the surface of the skin. This nevus has a brown color and clear contours.
• Intradermal melanoma nevus. This is the most common kind of birthmark. The accumulation of pigment cells is located in the thickness of the middle layer of skin, that is, in the dermis.
• Complex pigmented. This nevus rises above the skin. It can have a different color. Very often it grows hard hairs.
• Intradermal. It is a birthmark protruding above the surface of the skin and having an uneven, bumpy surface. Usually it appears at the age of 12-30 years.
• Blue. This stain has a characteristic color because it is associated with melanin deposits under the skin. Blue nevuses are dense to the touch and slightly rise above the skin.
• Basal . This is a kind of birthmark, which has the usual bodily color.
• Nevus Ota is usually located on the face in the form of "dirty" spots.
• Nevus Seton is a special kind of dermal spot when there is a patch of skin around it, devoid of pigment.
• Nevus Ita is very similar to Ota's nevus, but is under the collarbone, in the scapula, on the chest or neck.
• Papillomatous nevus is large, located at the back of the neck or on the head. Very often it grows hairs.
• Nevus Becker appears in young men 11-15 years. Can reach a size of up to 20 cm.
• The linear nevus appears from the very birth and represents a group of small nodules that are arranged on the body in the form of a chain.

Melanoma nevus: ICD 10

The International Classification of Diseases of the 10th revision is used in health care as a leading statistical basis. According to the mentioned document, the considered disease has the code - D22. The location of this disease in this classification is as follows:

1. Nevus of the lips.
2. Melanoma nevus century, including the adhesion of the eyelids.
3. The nevus of the ear and the auditory meatus are external.
4. Nevus unspecified and other parts of the face.
5. Neck and scalp.
6. Melaniform nevus of the trunk.
7. Upper limb, including the area of the shoulder girdle.
8. The nevus of the lower limb, including the hip area.
9. Melaniform nevus, unspecified.

Doctor's tasks

Before the doctor, diagnosing the disease in question, there are a number of important tasks:

• Correctly to establish a kind of a birthmark and to define possibilities of its treatment.
• To recognize (in time) the beginning of the process of formation of malignant degeneration.
• Identify the indications for conducting other diagnostic methods (if necessary).

Patient examination

Examination of a patient with a birthmark begins with a conversation and examination. During the interview, the doctor sets out such important details as the period of the birth of a birthmark (from birth or age), its behavior during the last time (for example, whether the color changed, whether it increased in size, etc.), previously diagnosed and treated .

After interviewing the patient, it should be examined. The doctor evaluates the size, shape and location of the stain, the presence of hair on it and other features. Next, he makes an accurate diagnosis and appoints medical measures.

If necessary, the doctor conducts additional diagnostics. To do this, from a birthmark, take smears. Indications for this method of research are: bleeding, cracks on the surface of the birthmark.

Taking a smear from a nevus has a significant drawback. In the process, microtrauma may occur, which can subsequently provoke malignant growth. In connection with this, such a study is conducted only in specialized oncological clinics.

Other diagnostic methods

The safest method of diagnosis is the method of luminescent microscopy. In this case, the mole is examined under a microscope, directly on the human body.

Luminescent microscopy is a safe, accurate and painless procedure. However, devices for its implementation are not available in all clinics.

Also, computer diagnostics is used to study the birthmark. Thanks to this technique, a nevus image is obtained, which is quickly compared with the existing database. As a result, the doctor can very quickly establish a correct diagnosis, and then prescribe a treatment.

Laboratory diagnostics

This method is used to establish the process of degeneration of the birthmark in melanoma. If it becomes malignant, then in the blood of the patient there are special substances called oncomarkers. Detection of these allows you to put the right diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Choice of treatment methods

Today, there are several ways to treat pigmented spots. They can be excised surgically or treated by other alternative methods.

The choice of therapy can not be determined by the wishes of the patient himself. Her testimony is determined by the doctor, taking into account such factors as:

• Peculiarities of a pigmented spot (risk of transition to melanoma, variety, size).
• Availability of necessary equipment.

Surgical method

Removing the nevus in an operative way (through a scalpel) is the most common technique, since it does not require the use of special equipment.

This tactic is shown in relation to moles, which are large in size. The disadvantages of this method include the following:

• In accordance with the rules, the surgeon must remove not only the pigmented spot, but also the covers that surround it (about 3-5 cm around);
• After the removal of the birthmark scars and scars are very often left;
• In young children, such education is almost always removed under general anesthesia.

Also it should be noted that in some cases very large non-dermal birthmarks have to be removed in parts. Doctors quite rarely resort to this method, since the rest of the stain is capable of giving active growth or regenerating into a malignant tumor.

Other methods of removal

In addition to excising the nevus with a scalpel, the following methods are used in modern clinics:

• Cryodestruction (this is the freezing of a mole).
• Electrocoagulation (high temperature effect).
• Laser therapy.

One can not help saying that radiosurgical methods are often used to excise birthmarks. Their essence lies in the fact that a special device-ultrasonic - generates a beam of radiation (radioactive), which concentrates in the area of the pathological focus and removes it, does not harm the surrounding tissues.