superficial spreading melanoma

melanoma /mel·a·no·ma/ (mel″ah-no´mah) a tumor arising from the melanocytic system of the skin and other organs; used alone, it refers to malignant m..

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acral-lentiginous melanoma  an irregular, enlarging black macule with a prolonged noninvasive stage, occurring chiefly on the palms and soles; it is the most common type of melanoma in nonwhite persons.

amelanotic melanoma  an unpigmented malignant melanoma.

juvenile melanoma  spindle and epithelioid cell nevus.

lenti´go malig´na melanoma  a cutaneous malignant melanoma arising in the site of a preexisting lentigo maligna, occurring on sun exposed areas, particularly of the face.

malignant melanoma  a malignant tumor usually developing from a nevus or lentigo maligna and consisting of black masses of cells with a marked tendency to metastasis.

nodular melanoma  a type of malignant melanoma without a perceptible radial growth phase, usually occurring on the head, neck, or trunk as a uniformly pigmented, elevated, bizarrely colored, rapidly enlarging nodule that ulcerates.

ocular melanoma  malignant melanoma arising from the structures of the eye, frequently metastasizing and rapidly causing death.

subungual melanoma  acral-lentiginous melanoma in the nail fold or bed.

superficial spreading melanoma  malignant melanoma characterized by a period of radial growth atypical of epidermal melanocytes, which may be followed by invasive growth or may regress; it usually occurs as a small pigmented macule or papule with irregular outline on the lower leg or back.

uveal melanoma  ocular melanoma consisting of overgrowth of uveal melanocytes.

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superficial spreading melanoma,

the most common melanoma that grows outward, spreading over the surface of the affected organ or tissue. It occurs most commonly on the lower legs of women and the torso of men. The lesion is raised and palpable, unevenly pigmented, and irregularly shaped and has an unclear border. See also lentigo maligna melanoma, nodular melanoma.

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superficial spreading melanoma

Dermatology A melanoma, 70% of which affect Pts from age 30 to 60, especially ♀ in lower legs or trunk, as a flat lesion–radial growth phase that may be present for months to yrs, average 5-yr survival 75% Etiology Recreational suntanning. See Melanoma.