Abstract
Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) is the most common type of melanoma in Caucasian, accounting for about 70% of all diagnosed melanoma cases [1]. This type of melanoma can strike at any age and occurs slightly more often in females than males. SSM has two growth phases: the radial growth phase and the vertical ones [2]. The radial phase involves expansion of the lesion through the epidermis (upper skin layer). In the early radial phase, the lesion is thin, and it can remain in this phase for months or years. This is the less life threatening of the two phases because once the melanoma enters into the vertical growth stage, the prognosis worsens.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E et al (2008) Cancer statistics, 2008. CA Cancer J Clin 58:71–96
Clark WH Jr, Elder DE, Van Horn M (1986) The biologic forms of malignant melanoma. Hum Pathol 17:443–450
Barnhill RL, Mihm MC Jr (1993) The histopathology of cutaneous malignant melanoma. Semin Diagn Pathol 10:47–75
Crucioli V, Stilwell J (1982) The histogenesis of malignant melanoma in relation to pre-existing pigmented lesions. J Cutan Pathol 9:396–404
Argenziano G, Soyer HP, Chimenti S et al (2003) Dermoscopy of pigmented skin lesions: results of a consensus meeting via the Internet. J Am Acad Dermatol 48:679–693
Soyer HP, Kenet RO, Wolf IH, Kenet BJ, Cerroni L (2000) Clinicopathological correlation of pigmented skin lesions using dermoscopy. Eur J Dermatol 10:22–28
Pellacani G, Cesinaro AM, Seidenari S (2005) Reflectance-mode confocal microscopy for the in vivo characterization of pagetoid melanocytosis in melanomas and nevi. J Invest Dermatol 125:532–537
Pellacani G, Longo C, Ferrara G et al (2009) Spitz nevi: in vivo confocal microscopic features, dermatoscopic aspects, histopathologic correlates, and diagnostic significance. J Am Acad Dermatol 60:236–247
Pellacani G, Scope A, Ferrari B et al (2009) New insights into nevogenesis: in vivo characterization and follow-up of melanocytic nevi by reflectance confocal microscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol 61:1001–1013
Pellacani G, Cesinaro AM, Longo C, Grana C, Seidenari S (2005) Microscopic in vivo description of cellular architecture of dermoscopic pigment network in nevi and melanomas. Arch Dermatol 141:147–154
Longo C, Rito C, Beretti F, Cesinaro AM, Piñeiro-Maceira J, Seidenari S, Pellacani G. De novo melanoma and melanoma arising from pre-existing nevus: In vivo morphologic differences as evaluated by confocal microscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Sep;65(3):604–14
Pellacani G, Cesinaro AM, Seidenari S (2005) In vivo assessment of melanocytic nests in nevi and melanomas by reflectance confocal microscopy. Mod Pathol 18:469–474
Zalaudek I, Argenziano G, Ferrara G et al (2004) Clinically equivocal melanocytic skin lesions with features of regression: a dermoscopic-pathological study. Br J Dermatol 150:64–71
Seidenari S, Ferrari C, Borsari S, et al (2010) Reticular grey-blue areas of regression as a dermoscopic marker of melanoma in situ. Br J Dermatol. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09821.x
Ahlgrimm-Siess V, Massone C, Scope A et al (2009) Reflectance confocal microscopy of facial lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanoma: a preliminary study. Br J Dermatol 161:1307–1316
Guitera P, Pellacani G, Crotty KA et al (2010) The impact of in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy on the diagnostic accuracy of lentigo maligna and equivocal pigmented and nonpigmented macules of the face. J Invest Dermatol 130:2080–2091
Longo C, Casari A, Beretti F, Cesinaro AM, Pellacani G. Skin aging: in vivo microscopic assessment of epidermal and dermal changes by means of confocal microscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol 2011 In Press
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Longo, C., Casari, A., Pellacani, G. (2012). Superficial Spreading Melanoma. In: Hofmann-Wellenhof, R., Pellacani, G., Malvehy, J., Soyer, H. (eds) Reflectance Confocal Microscopy for Skin Diseases. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21997-9_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21997-9_13
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-21996-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-21997-9
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)