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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Possible Amelanotic melanoma
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
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Possible Amelanotic melanoma
by caribbeanguy, Dec 08, 2005 12:00AM
My wife, a 23 y/o female, recently showed me a new lesion on her shoulder that is just smaller than a pencil eraser. It has well circumscribed borders and is about the same color as her skin. It looks like a new colorless mole, but I cannot be sure. She said it has grown up in the last month or so.
About four months ago she had a mole biopsied which came back as an atypical nevus and more tissue was removed with MOHS surgery just to be safe.
Unfortunately, we live in the caribbean temporarily where I go to medical school, and there is no dermatologist or a pathology lab I would trust. I am wondering if I should get her back to the U.S. as soon as possible to have this looked at in case it is nodular amelanotic melanoma.
My main questions are:
How rare would it be for a 23 y/o to present with a amelanotic nodular type?
Are there any other lesions this could possibly be that could pop up within a month looking nodular and skin colored?
Any other thoughts you might have are appreciated.
Thank you.
About four months ago she had a mole biopsied which came back as an atypical nevus and more tissue was removed with MOHS surgery just to be safe.
Unfortunately, we live in the caribbean temporarily where I go to medical school, and there is no dermatologist or a pathology lab I would trust. I am wondering if I should get her back to the U.S. as soon as possible to have this looked at in case it is nodular amelanotic melanoma.
My main questions are:
How rare would it be for a 23 y/o to present with a amelanotic nodular type?
Are there any other lesions this could possibly be that could pop up within a month looking nodular and skin colored?
Any other thoughts you might have are appreciated.
Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Dec 09, 2005 12:00AM
, Dec 09, 2005 12:00AM
Very rare, indeed. I'm a little perplexed as to why you are even concerned, if the lesion was read as atypical nevus. I am also mystified as to why Mohs surgery was used for a mole on the shoulder, when a simple excision would do.
In any case, pathology is portable. I suggest that you ask that the pathologist who read the slides send them to a skin pathology lab in the US for a second opinion--this is done all the time.
There are many good labs. One is http://www.cohenderm.com/.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
In any case, pathology is portable. I suggest that you ask that the pathologist who read the slides send them to a skin pathology lab in the US for a second opinion--this is done all the time.
There are many good labs. One is http://www.cohenderm.com/.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
