Signs of melanoma

After exhausting attempts to treat her black heels without success, the frail-looking woman finally arrived at the Central Dermatology Hospital and found the answer to the question of why her heels were black.

Recently, the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the National Dermatology Hospital has been receiving a series of patients with black heels and black lesions on the soles of their feet.

Illustrative image.

Specifically, the department recently admitted patient LTT, born in 1954, with a thin physique, notably with black lesions and ulcers that oozed fluid, and who had been treated at the provincial hospital multiple times with an unclear diagnosis.

According to the patient, the black lesion had been present for 10 years. However, over time, the black lesion gradually increased in size. For about a year now, the black lesion has been growing rapidly, developing into ulceration. During this time, the patient has visited the provincial hospital for examination and received multiple surgical and suturing treatments, but without success.

On July 1, 2024, the patient was transferred to the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Dermatology Hospital for examination and was prescribed blood tests, ultrasound, and dermoscopy - a specialized test in dermatology that can detect early signs of skin cancer.

After examination and testing, the doctor made a preliminary diagnosis of malignant melanoma (MM) in the right heel.

The patient was scheduled for total tumor resection and histopathological examination to accurately determine the extent of invasion and stage of the disease, thereby allowing for timely and appropriate treatment planning. This could help reduce the rate of local or distant metastasis of melanoma.

According to Dr. Nguyen Huu Quang, Deputy Head of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Deputy Head of the Melanoma Specialist Group at the Central Dermatology Hospital, the hospital established a melanoma specialist group in June 2024 – which received training in Japan. The group's nhiệm vụ is to provide specialized examination, treatment, and management of melanoma.

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive types of skin cancer because it progresses rapidly and metastasizes to distant sites. Although the disease is very aggressive with a high rate of metastasis, if detected early and treated according to the correct protocol, it yields good results, with a very high 5-year survival rate.

The telltale sign of melanoma is the appearance of dark lesions larger than 6mm, which grow in size and are heterogeneous in color, appearing on any part of the skin and mucous membranes. However, in Vietnamese people, they often appear at the extremities such as the hands, fingers, and toes. Patients with these symptoms are advised to consult a specialist.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/dau-hieu-ung-thu-te-bao-hac-to-o-da-d219691.html