Question 5

[wcb22]

Question 5

Excisional biopsy of a solitary 1 cm diameter pigmented lesion from the upper back on your 38 year old female patient shows a malignant melanoma that is 2 mm in thickness, with margins clear. These findings most strongly suggests that:
A She will not have to worry further about this lesion
B The lesion has occurred in a non sun-exposed area
C There is a genetic basis for the occurrence of this lesion
D Human papillomavirus infection was present
E There may be metastases within 5 years













































(E) CORRECT. This is very thick and suggests that there is a much poorer prognosis than a melanoma only 0.75 mm thick (which has a 98% 5 year disease free interval.

[wcb22]

remember that number... 0.75-0.76mm, that's the thickness of the skin all the way down to the basement membrane. so if the melanoma is 0.65mm, it's still "in situ", and prognosis is better. very exact measurement there, and very important for the life of your patient.