Melanoma Screening

Melanoma screening is part of any skin cancer examination because melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. Melanoma can spread through the lymphatic and blood vessel to other organs in the body. Such metastasis may be life-threatening. Melanoma often originates in a pre-existing mole, but about half of melanomas begin in skin which previously had no sign of pigmentation. Most melanomas show recent change, growth, various shades of intense black, and unusual margins like an ink-blot. Melanoma rarely presents with no dark pigmentation and may be pink in color (this requires a high index of suspicion on the part of an examiner). Any new change on the skin is cause for concern.