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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Melanoma excision
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Melanoma excision
by Twinny, May 30, 2008 12:27PM
I posted once before and have since had my excisional biopsy on a mole that turned out to be melanoma. I am terrified even though doctor is hopeful. Doc said they got it all out. Initial report was .49 mm and thin and superficial. What are the chances it has grown to 3 or 4 mm once they dug deeper in the skin. What are the chances something this small has already spread? Lymph node check by hand was fine. Hope you can help. Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Jun 01, 2008 05:06AM
, Jun 01, 2008 05:06AMTo: Twinny
The prognosis for a melanoma that small is excellent. Your doctor is right to be hopeful. "Excision" means cutting the whole thing out, so if that showed that the melanoma was only half a millimeter deep, you already know that it isn't 3-4 millimeters deeper. Besides, I'm sure they plan to take a wider excision as a precaution, and the pathologist will analyze that too to be sure that the tissue shows no melanoma left behind. The chances of spread are very small. You'll need regular follow-up, of course. Discuss your understandable anxiety with your dermatologist when you go.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
