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Melanoma: Stages and Types

Melanoma is treated according to its stage and type. Learn more about the different stages and types of melanoma.

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Risk Management & Treatment > Cancer Treatment > By Cancer Type > Melanoma > Stages and Subtypes

Overview Melanoma: Stages and Types Melanoma: Treatment Options Melanoma: Genetic and Biomarker Testing
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Stages and Subtypes of Melanoma

After a biopsy or surgery confirms melanoma, doctors look closely at the tumor cells, size and thickness and check and organs for possible spread of cancer. This process is known as . melanoma helps doctors create a plan to treat it.

is done using the TNM system (tumor, node, and ). TNM is based on 3 measures.

  • T (tumor) is a measure of tumor thickness and whether the tumor is ulcerated (the skin over the melanoma has broken down).
  • N (lymph node) is a measure of whether the tumor has spread to nearby .
  • M () is a measure of whether the tumor has spread to other parts of the body.

Stages of melanoma

The  of a cancer refers to whether it has spread, and if it has, the location in the body where it has spread. Measuring the  of melanoma helps doctors decide how to treat it. Two main features include

  • The thickness is of the melanoma measures how deep it goes into the skin. The thicker the melanoma, the greater the chance it has spread.
  • Ulceration describes the skin over the melanoma and whether it has an open wound. Ulcerated melanomas tend to have a worse outlook.

Doctors may order additional tests such as xrays, chest, CT, or PET scans to learn if the cancer has spread. 

Stage
Description
Stage 0
  • the cancer is only in the top layers of skin
  • this stage is sometimes called melanoma in situ
Stage 1
  • is less than 2 millimeters (mm) thick or less than 1 mm thick but with ulceration
  • has not spread beyond the skin
Stage 2
  • 2 or more mm thick
  • may or may not be ulcerated
  • has not spread beyond the skin
Stage 3
  • spread to nearby lymph nodes or other nearby tissue
Stage 4 (metastatic)
  • spread to distant lymph nodes or other organs, such as lung, liver or brain
Stages of melanoma

Additional tests can be performed on tumor samples to help guide treatment. For some patients, tumor  testing can help guide the choice of target therapy. 

Types of melanoma 

After surgery confirms cancer, the pathologist looks closely at the type of cells for additional clues on how likely the melanoma is to spread. 

Type
Description

superficial spreading melanoma

This is the most common type of melanoma. It can grow along the top layer of the skin for months or years, but over time can grow deeper into the skin.
nodular melanoma

This is the second most common type of melanoma. It usual begins as a rounded bump on the skin that might tend to bleed. It tends to be fast growing and may not be identified before it has grown into the deeper layers of the skin.

acral lentiginous

This is a rare type of melanoma, although it is the most common form among people of Asian or African ethnicity. It may appear as a brown or black area that looks like a bruise that doesn't heal. It tends to occur under the nails, on the soles of the feet or on the palms.

lentigo maligna

This type of melanoma is usually found in older people who have sun-damaged skin. It tends to affect the face, neck, ears or scalp.

ocular melanoma

Ocular melanoma is a rare type of melanoma that begins in the eye.

  • Uveal melanoma begins in the inner part of the eye known as the uvea.
  • Conjunctival melanoma begins in the covering of the eye.
Types of melanoma

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