Staging of melanoma is very relevant to study the advanced growth of the disease and how are they to be treated. There are numerous test to undergo in order to determine its phases. The most common procedures are as follows:
1.Excision
A procedure where a removal of normal tissue in the affected area where suspected melanoma is found, to check and indicate whether there is a presence of cancer cells.
2.Lymph node mapping and sentinel biopsy
This procedure is usually done where a radioactive substance is injected near the subject tumor.
3.Chest x-rays
This is a type of energy, beaming towards any part of the body,filming organs and bones inside the ribcage or chest.
4.Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
This procedure uses magnet and radio waves with computer to capture series of pictures for a particular part of ailing body. This is also known as nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.
5.Positron Emission tomography scan
This is a procedure where a radioactive sugar is injected to a vein. The scanner makes a film where glucose is used in the body. The affected tumor cells, being active and consumes more glucose than the normal cells glow brighter in the film.
6.CAT scan
This is a procedure where a series of detailed pictures are made by a computer linked in a xray machine. The images are taken in different angles. A dye is being injected in a vein, to let tissues images show up clearly. This is sometime known as computerized tomography, axial tomography or computed tomography.
7.Blood sample test
In this procedure, the blood sample is being checked for the presence of an enzyme known as LDH or lactate dehydrogenase.
8.Other basic laboratory tests and procedures that may help program the treatment.
The results of these tests and biopsy, play essential roles in determining the growth stages of melanoma.
Stage 0: Known as Melanoma in Situ, the melanoma cells are found only in the outer layer of skin cells and have not yet invaded in depth tissues.
Stage I/II: Known as Invasive Melanoma, where the melanoma cell is thin or less than 1 millimeter in thickness with ulceration or skin being scraped.
Stage II: High Risk Melanoma, where the size of the tumor ranges from 1 to 2 millimeter in thickness with the presence of ulceration.
Stage III: Regional Metastasis, where the melanoma cells have already spread to lymph nodes.
Stage IV: Distant Metastasis.
An ABCD system were established by the experts to help identify the presence and symptoms of melanoma in the body. Another method of identifyingmelanoma is the Glasgow 7-Points checklist. The measures are as follows: