Melanoma detected from a dark patch on the foot

According to the patient, this lesion has been there for many years. About a year ago, the patient saw the black patch gradually getting bigger but it was not painful or itchy. The patient then went to a private clinic and had the entire lesion removed.

About 3 months after the minor surgery, the old damaged area started to have a black spot again, this spot grew quickly, the center was ulcerated and bleeding.

Through examination, Dr. Vu Nguyen Binh, Department of Plastic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Central Dermatology Hospital, assessed that the patient was alert, had no fever, and was in stable condition. The main lesion was a hyperpigmented patch on the outer edge of the left foot, measuring 4x3cm, with a relatively clear boundary compared to the surrounding healthy skin, uneven edges, and a dirty crusted surface. The patient also had a number of diseases such as high blood pressure, kidney stones, etc.

Dr. Binh ordered the patient to undergo a dermoscopy of the lesion, a specialized paraclinical test in dermatology. The results of the scan matched the doctor's clinical diagnosis of melanoma and the patient was admitted to the hospital for treatment.

Through pre-operative consultation, the expert panel determined that the lesion had appeared and progressed over a long period of time, and the patient and his family were complacent and did not seek medical attention early because they thought it was a normal, harmless mole. The patient only sought medical attention when the lesion became too large and started bleeding. At that time, the lesion had most likely progressed to cancer. In addition, the patient was first treated at a non-specialized facility, so the risks could not be fully assessed and the treatment method was incorrect.

Image of patient's injury.

At the Central Dermatology Hospital, the patient was indicated to have a wide excision of the lesion (2cm from the edge of the lesion). Because the lesion was located close to the little toe, to ensure safety, the doctor surgically amputated the little toe of the left foot. The lesion was then subjected to pathological examination to determine the depth of invasion of cancer cells to assess the metastasis. In addition, the patient was also screened for metastasis by sentinel lymph node biopsy, which is a valuable initial metastasis screening method.

Fortunately for the patient, the cancerous lesion had not invaded too deeply in the affected area and there were no signs of metastasis to the lymph nodes. The patient's prognosis was relatively good. The patient then had a skin graft to cover the skin defect after the cancerous lesion was removed. This method helps restore the lost skin area, and makes it easier to monitor for recurrence after treatment.

Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery, Central Dermatology Hospital, advised that every year, the hospital receives many patients with injuries and diagnoses similar to this patient.

Therefore, when detecting hyperpigmented lesions (brown, black) in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, people need to immediately go to specialized facilities for early detection and timely treatment, minimizing possible unfortunate consequences, because hyperpigmented lesions in these areas have a high cancer rate and high malignancy level.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/phat-hien-ung-thu-te-bao-hac-to-tu-mot-mang-den-o-ban-chan-post878113.html