The importance of a dermatologic full physical examination for the early diagnosis of malignant lesions - case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i4.27353Keywords:
Melanoma; Early Diagnosis; Dermatologic physical examination.Abstract
Background: Melanoma, a malignant tumor originated in the melanocytes, is a neoplasm of an aggressive nature with metastatic potential. As well as the other types of skin cancer, melanoma tends to be asymptomatic. The possibility of cure and the survival rate are directly related to staging of the tumor, which is associated with excision in the initial phase and with early diagnosis. Dermatoscopy is a diagnostic aid tool that increases up to 30% the diagnostic accuracy of melanoma. Objective: To report a case of melanoma diagnosed during a complete dermatological examination, in an acral area also affected by psoriasis. Methodology: This is a clinical case report. Results: We report the case of a male patient, aged 61 years old, undergoing dermatologic follow-up due to psoriasis and that, when examined, presented a brown blackened macule of approximately 1 cm, asymmetric, and with fuzzy borders in the plantar region of the right foot. He denied any related complaint and had not noticed the lesion before. An excisional biopsy was performed, with the in-situ melanoma hypothesis being confirmed and with later expansion of the surgical margins, which revealed absence of residual neoplasm. Conclusion: Therefore, all dermatologic physical examinations must be complete, detailed and not only restricted to the patients' complaints. Routine dermatologic physical examinations are mandatory in all patients, and pigmented lesions must be evaluated through the dermatoscopy method whenever possible. For patients with low risk of skin cancer, a dermatologic full physical examination is indicated at least once a year. In patients with risk factors, the re-evaluation intervals must be individualized.
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Copyright (c) 2022 Jéssica Pareja Guerra; Marilda Aparecida Milanez Morgado de Abreu; Ana Claudia Cavalcante Espósito
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