Derm: Malignant melanoma: Free MSRA Podcast

🧑‍⚕️ FREE MSRA PODCAST – Malignant Melanoma: Spotting and Stopping Skin Cancer Early🎯 All the essential facts on malignant melanoma for MSRA revision: recognition, risk, management, and prevention—clear and concise.Key Learning Points🔍 Definition• Malignant melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer from melanocytes (pigment cells), capable of rapid spread (metastasis) if not caught early.☀️ Causes & Risk Factors• Ultraviolet (UV) exposure (sunlight & tanning beds)• Severe sunburns, especially in childhood• Fair skin (Fitzpatrick type I/II), light hair/eyes• Numerous or atypical moles• Family or personal history of skin cancer• Immunosuppression• Genetic mutations (e.g., BRAF, NRAS)🧬 Pathophysiology• Mutations in melanocytes disrupt normal cell growth controls• Radial growth phase (outwards), then vertical (deeper)• Invasion of the dermis enables spread via blood/lymphatics👀 Clinical Features• New or changing mole (size, colour, border, elevation, bleeding, itching)• ABCDE signs:AsymmetryBorder irregularityColour variationDiameter >6mmEvolution (change over time)• The “ugly duckling” sign: a mole that looks different from the others• Most common on the trunk (men) or legs (women)💡 Differential Diagnosis• Benign naevi (moles)• Seborrhoeic keratosis• Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma• Freckles, lentigo, angioma, pyogenic granuloma• Other: Kaposi sarcoma, scab, dermal fibroma📈 Epidemiology (UK)• 5th most common cancer in the UK• Rates have doubled since 1990s• Most frequent in older adults, but increasing in younger people too🔬 Investigations• Clinical examination and dermoscopy• Full-thickness excision biopsy (diagnostic and therapeutic)• Staging: sentinel lymph node biopsy, imaging (ultrasound, CT, PET) if needed• Genetic testing (BRAF/NRAS) for advanced cases💊 Management• Surgical excision with margins (mainstay for early disease)• Wider margins for confirmed diagnosis (based on Breslow thickness)• MDT review for advanced cases• Immunotherapy or targeted therapy (for advanced/metastatic disease)• Adjuvant therapy post-surgery (in select cases)• Palliative care for stage 4🛡️ Prevention• Sun safety, avoid tanning beds• Regular skin checks for high-risk individuals• Patient education📉 Prognosis• Early-stage: 5-year survival 90%+• Advanced/metastatic: poor prognosis• Key prognostic factors: stage, thickness (Breslow), ulceration, node involvement• Lifelong increased risk of further skin cancers after one melanoma⚠️ Complications• Local invasion, lymph node & distant metastasis (lungs, brain, liver, bone)• Recurrence, scarring, lymphoedema, psychological effects• Side effects from surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy📎 More MSRA Revision for Malignant Melanoma:📝 Revision Notes: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/malignant-melanoma-revision-notes/💬 Flashcards: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/malignant-melanoma-flashcards/🧠 Accordion Q&A: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/malignant-melanoma-accordion-qa-notes/🚀 Rapid Quiz: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/malignant-melanoma-rapid-quiz/🧪 Full Quiz: https://www.passthemsra.com/quizzes/malignant-melanoma/🎓 Dermatology Course: https://www.passthemsra.com/courses/dermatology-for-the-msra/🌐 For more free & premium revision resources:https://www.passthemsra.com#MSRA #MalignantMelanoma #SkinCancer #ABCDE #MSRARevision #PassTheMSRA #FreeMSRA #Dermatology #SunSafety #SkinCheck #MSRAFlashcards