Melanoma nodular C43.L

Aggressive and vertically growing malignant melanoma with a rather bad prognosis (5-JÜR depending on tumor thickness at 60%). Occurs mainly in fair-skinned, intensely sun-exposed people, either on previously unmodified skin (more rarely), or on a pre-existing melanocytic nevus. Nodular melanoma is the second most common form of melanoma (20-30% of all melanomas).

m>w; preferred for skin types I and II; age: >50 years

torso, head, neck

One distinguishes between two forms of growth:

• Vertical type: Small, black or blue-black, smooth, hemispherical knot.
• Vertical/horizontal type: Black, irregularly configured node with horizontal and vertical growth. The nodule shows a thinned, parchment-like, also exfoliatively scaly surface. Not uncommon are crust formations or central erosions or ulcerations (bleeding and weeping). At the edge of the nodule tongue-shaped, brown, black or red plaques are found.

Incident light microscopy: Diffuse pigmentation is dominant, the regular pigment network may still be present at the edge.

High-resolution sonography: echoless tumor zone. Suitable for non-invasive thickness determination of the tumor parenchyma.

S.u. Melanoma malignes (overview)