title: Melanoma: from patient presentation to pathology report.
abstract: Melanoma is an increasingly common and potentially fatal malignancy of the skin and some mucous membranes. Early detection and diagnosis based on patient or primary care physician awareness can potentially reduce both related morbidity and mortality. This article will detail a basic clinical approach to pigmented skin lesions followed by a discussion of pathologic analysis and staging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, USA. ojassim@dom.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Omar W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Jassim
authors.forename: Anne C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lind
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000379:methods; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*
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