Is laser treatment or surgical removal better for melanoma?

Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
Updated on April 01, 2025
00:00
00:00

Regarding whether laser treatment or surgical excision is better for melanoma, the answer is clear: surgical excision is better. Melanoma originates from melanocytes and is not limited to one layer of the skin. Therefore, for melanoma of the skin, the infiltration depth can sometimes be profound, reaching the dermis layer. Laser treatment sometimes only covers a superficial depth, which cannot achieve complete removal.

Surgical excision can completely remove deeper infiltrative parts of the melanoma, and after the excision, complete tissues can be obtained for pathological examination, which helps in staging after the surgery and guides treatment post-surgery. Laser treatment does not offer these benefits. Therefore, current guidelines recommend surgical excision for the treatment of melanoma and do not recommend laser treatment.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
33sec home-news-image

Melanoma cancer symptoms

Once melanoma begins to transform cancerously, the tumor will gradually grow larger, and the melanocytic nevi on the skin will also exhibit unusual phenomena. If various colors or a deepening of color appears in the melanin on a patient's body, it might indicate the onset of malignant changes. If a patient develops melanoma, it is advisable for them to seek medical attention promptly for surgical treatment, as this can help prevent the progression to cancer.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
48sec home-news-image

Does melanoma feel painful when pressed?

Melanoma is a highly malignant skin cancer, and clinically, some patients may experience pain when pressing on the lesion area. The reason for the pain is mainly due to the rapid growth of the melanoma, leading to compression of local tissues or the optic nerve and urgency, resulting in a painful sensation. This pain can exist even without pressing, and ulcerative lesions can occur in some affected areas, leading to symptoms such as pain, bleeding, and infection. In addition to pain upon local compression, patients with melanoma may also experience inflammatory changes such as redness, swelling, heat, and pain, causing some clinical symptoms of fever.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
40sec home-news-image

How long does it take for melanoma to develop?

The duration of melanoma development varies because melanoma is a type of skin cancer with a relatively high degree of malignancy. However, clinically, the types of melanoma are diverse, and the onset time generally correlates with the patient's clinical phenotype. For some superficial types of melanoma with low malignancy, it generally takes several years to develop. For highly malignant melanomas, the disease generally progresses rapidly within about six months to a year. Once melanoma progresses, it can affect multiple parts of the body and severely impact the patient's lifespan.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
38sec home-news-image

Melanoma originates from which tissue?

Melanoma does not originate from any specific tissue, but from melanocytes. Therefore, melanoma can occur in any tissue where melanocytes are present. The most common sites for melanoma are the skin and mucous membranes. Additionally, because melanocytes are widely present throughout the body, melanoma can also occur in hollow organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, in skeletal muscles, and in the nervous system. Once diagnosed, melanoma needs to be treated promptly. The main treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
50sec home-news-image

Does melanoma protrude above the surface of the skin?

Melanoma is generally raised above the surface of the skin. Melanoma is a type of special malignant tumor with a high mortality rate. It usually arises from moles or pigmented spots on the skin that, after intense irritation or specific radiation exposure, undergo changes, leading to gradual growth. Early detection of melanoma offers a significant chance of cure. Melanoma is typically confined to the outer layer of the skin or epidermis. Once melanoma spreads, it becomes difficult to treat, and the chances of survival decrease. Therefore, if you suspect that you have melanoma, it is crucial to visit a dermatology department at a reputable hospital for diagnosis and to undergo surgical removal followed by a pathological examination.