title: [Early diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma and its precursors. Importance of the clinical characteristics of thin melanoma].
abstract: The diagnosis and removal of precursor and early lesions is the only method to improve the prognosis and survival rate in malignant melanomas of the skin since the aetiology of the disease is unknown and treatment ineffective when the neoplasm is diagnosed at an advanced stage. A campaign for the prevention and early diagnosis of melanoma is based on the health education of the entire population with the distribution of illustrative material that by teaching people to examine their skin will show up suspicious pigmentary lesions that can be examined and removed by the dermatologist. Thin melanoma is always curable when removed and constitutes the basic tumour to be described to the public as it is easily identified and has constant, typical features. Among the precursors the most interesting lesions is the sporadic or familial dysplastic nevus despite the controversy over its pathogenic significance and morphological aspect. The other pigmentary neoplasias (congenital and acquired nevus) only must to be removed when they present changes resembling thin melanoma.
mesh_terms: D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
vernacular_title: Diagnosi precoce del melanoma cutaneo e dei precursori. Importanza delle caratteristiche cliniche del melanoma sottile.