| Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes which | | | | excessive scarring and morbidity from the procedure. |
| are found predominantly in skin but also in the bowel | | | | Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) tests are often used |
| and the eye. It is one of the less common types of | | | | to screen for metastases, although many patients |
| skin cancer but causes the majority of skin cancer | | | | with metastases have a normal LDH; extraordinarily |
| related deaths. Melanocytes are normally present in | | | | high LDH often indicates metastatic spread of the |
| skin, being responsible for the production of the dark | | | | disease to the liver. It is common for patients |
| pigment melanin. | | | | diagnosed with melanoma to have chest X-rays and |
| Around 60,000 new cases of invasive melanoma are | | | | an LDH test, and in some cases CT, MRI, PET or |
| diagnosed in the US each year, more frequently in | | | | PET/CT scans. |
| males and in Caucasians. It is more common in | | | | Although controversial, sentinel lymph node biopsies |
| Caucasian populations living in sunny climates than in | | | | and examination of the lymph nodes are also |
| other groups, or in those who use tanning salons. | | | | performed in patients to assess spread to the lymph |
| According to a WHO report about 48,000 melanoma | | | | nodes. Sometimes the skin lesion may bleed, itch, or |
| related deaths occur worldwide per year. | | | | ulcerate, although this is a very late sign. A |
| Excisional skin biopsy is the management of choice | | | | slow-healing lesion should be watched closely, as that |
| for melanoma diagnosis; this is where the suspect | | | | may be a sign of melanoma. Some patients with |
| lesion is totally removed with an adequate ellipse of | | | | metastatic melanoma do not have an obvious |
| surrounding skin and tissue. The preferred surgical | | | | detectable primary tumor. |
| margin for the initial biopsy should be narrow in order | | | | Be aware also that in circumstances that are still |
| to prevent the disruption of the local lymphatic | | | | poorly understood, melanomas may "regress" or |
| drainage. | | | | spontaneously become smaller or invisible; however |
| The biopsy will include the epidermal, dermal, and | | | | the malignancy is still present. Amelanotic melanomas |
| subcutaneous layers of the skin, enabling the | | | | do not have pigment and may not even be visible. |
| histopathologist to determine the thickness of the | | | | Lentigo maligna, a superficial melanoma confined to |
| melanoma by microscopic examination. This is | | | | the topmost layers of the skin is often described as |
| described by Breslow's thickness. Large initial excision | | | | a "stain" on the skin. |
| will disrupt the local lymphatic drainage and can affect | | | | The treatment includes surgical removal of the |
| further lymphangiogram directed lymphnode | | | | tumor, adjuvant treatment, chemotherapy, |
| dissection. | | | | immunotherapy, or radiation therapy. NeviCurative |
| A small punch biopsy can be utilized at any time | | | | provides a safe and effective alternative to current |
| where for logistical and personal reasons a patient | | | | medical treatments that can be invasive and |
| refuses more invasive excisional biopsy. Small punch | | | | expensive. It provides total clearance of moles |
| biopsies are minimally invasive and heal quickly, usually | | | | without any recurrence, discomfort, or tissue |
| without noticeable scarring. Thus, a small punch | | | | damage. |
| biopsy in representative areas will give adequate | | | | The therapeutic action of NeviCurative is |
| information and will not disrupt the final staging or | | | | accomplished via its rapid absorption into the skin |
| depth determination. | | | | where moles occur. The certified organic antimicrobial |
| For large lesions such as suspected lentigo maligna, or | | | | plant extracts in NeviCurative are lipophilic (easily |
| for lesions in surgically difficult areas (face, toes, | | | | absorbed into fatty tissue such as the skin) and have |
| fingers, eyelids), a small punch biopsy in | | | | a low molecular weight. This allows them to pass |
| representative areas would be enough. In no | | | | readily through skin tissue and into cell membranes |
| circumstances should the initial biopsy include the final | | | | where they eradicate nevi. |
| surgical margin, as a misdiagnosis can result in | | | | |