A biopsy will rule out or confirm whether melanoma is present, but will also provide information on staging and treatment. If there is a malignancy, the pathologist will look at tumor depth and ulceration.
Tumor depth means the pathologist is measuring the depth of invasion in millimeters, or how thick the melanoma is which helps stage the cancer.
Read More Signs of ulceration usually mean that the melanoma is more aggressive and at higher risk for spreading. Ulcerated lesions show signs of a breakdown in the skin and may bleed. Staging is also an important factor in treatment decisions. There are five stages of melanoma, designated 0-IV. The higher the stage, the more advanced the cancer is.
- Stage 0: Also called melanoma in situ, this is the earliest stage of melanoma. The tumor has not invaded the deeper layers of the skin.
- Stage I: The lesion is no greater than 1 millimeter thick and has not spread to the lymph nodes.
- Stage II: The tumor is more than 1 millimeter thick and may show signs of ulceration.
- Stage III: The tumor has spread to the lymph nodes or lymphatic system, but has not spread to other organs.
- Stage IV: The melanoma has spread to other organs, such as the lungs or brain.
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