Is melanoma flat or raised?

Written by He Da Wei
Dermatology
Updated on April 02, 2025
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Melanoma generally is not flat, also known as malignant melanoma, which is a highly malignant cancer originating from melanocytes, commonly occurring in the skin. Men over the age of 60 are a high-risk group, with the most commonly affected areas being the lower limbs and feet, followed by the trunk, head and neck, or upper limbs. Symptoms mainly include rapidly growing melanotic nodules. Initially, normal skin becomes heavily pigmented, or pigmented moles darken and increase in pigment. The skin lesions continually enlarge and harden, accompanied by itching and pain. The lesions of melanoma may be raised, patchy, or nodular, and some may even resemble cauliflower.

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What should be done about melanoma brain metastasis?

After melanoma metastasizes to the brain, it requires early treatment, which mainly includes the following measures: First, general supportive care, such as using mannitol or glycerol fructose to reduce intracranial pressure and alleviate symptoms like headache, nausea, and vomiting if increased intracranial pressure occurs after brain metastasis; Second, local treatment, such as whole brain radiotherapy or precise Gamma Knife surgery, to control the intracranial lesion after brain metastasis; Third, systemic treatment, as melanoma with brain metastases indicates stage IV disease, requiring control of the condition through systemic treatments including chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy.

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How long will melanoma become malignant?

Melanoma is a malignant tumor caused by melanocytes in the skin and human organs. Cutaneous melanoma generally manifests as pigmented lesions that often change over many years or in a short period of time. Because of this, the risk period for melanoma varies in length, and it is uncertain how long it will take for the disease to develop. Melanoma is a malignant tumor with poor survival rates, and it is prone to aggressive metastasis. If metastasis occurs, the lifespan of the patient will be significantly reduced.

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Written by He Da Wei
Dermatology
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Is melanoma flat or raised?

Melanoma generally is not flat, also known as malignant melanoma, which is a highly malignant cancer originating from melanocytes, commonly occurring in the skin. Men over the age of 60 are a high-risk group, with the most commonly affected areas being the lower limbs and feet, followed by the trunk, head and neck, or upper limbs. Symptoms mainly include rapidly growing melanotic nodules. Initially, normal skin becomes heavily pigmented, or pigmented moles darken and increase in pigment. The skin lesions continually enlarge and harden, accompanied by itching and pain. The lesions of melanoma may be raised, patchy, or nodular, and some may even resemble cauliflower.

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Written by Zhu Rui
Oncology
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Is melanoma easy to get?

Melanoma is not easy to contract, with relatively low incidence and mortality rates. Melanoma is a tumor derived from the malignant transformation of melanocytes, highly malignant, often occurring in the skin but also in mucous membranes, the choroid of the eye, the pia mater, and other various parts and tissues. In the Chinese population, it commonly appears on the extremities of the skin, such as the sole of the foot, toes, fingertips, and under the nails. According to global cancer statistics from last year, melanoma accounts for 1.6% of all new cancer cases. In China, the incidence and mortality rates of cutaneous melanoma are relatively low, with about one case per 300,000 people. In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the incidence of melanoma, which needs to be monitored carefully.

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Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
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The significance of melanoma genetic testing

The significance of genetic testing for melanoma patients mainly involves two aspects: first, the identification of specific driver gene mutations to guide the application of targeted drugs; second, the detection of mutations in some common genes to judge the prognosis of the disease. Regarding the target gene mutations for drug selection, the commonly used ones include mutations in C-KIT, BRAF, and M-TOR. If mutations in these target genes are found, corresponding targeted drugs can be used for treatment. These drugs are generally orally administered, have relatively good efficacy, low side effects, and are suitable for the treatment of melanoma. Additionally, some genetic tests can predict the prognosis of melanoma patients based on the presence or absence of mutations.