Superficial Spreading Melanoma

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Skin cancer is common types of cancer for people who loved sunbath or often gets expose with the sun and melanoma is also endanger those who loved tanned skin. Among all types of melanoma, superficial spreading melanoma (also known as "Superficially spreading melanoma") (SSM) is the most common form of malignant melanoma in Caucasians.


Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) usually diagnosed when people who got it at age of 50, and it is occur on part of body that often expose to the sun, especially on the backs of males and lower limbs of females.

Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) can be evolved from a precursor lesion, usually a dysplastic nevus. Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) also can arise in previously normal skin. When superficial spreading melanoma in prolonged radial growth phase, its lesion remains thin. However, superficial spreading melanoma may eventually be followed by a vertical growth phase where the lesion becomes thick and nodular. As the risk of spread varies with the thickness, early Superficial spreading melanoma is more frequently cured than late nodular melanoma.

The microscopic hallmarks are:

• Large melanocytic cells with nest formation along the dermo-epidermal junction.
• Invasion of the upper epidermis in a pagetoid fashion (discohesive single cell growth).
• The pattern of rete ridges is often effaced.
• Invasion of the dermis by atypical, pleomorphic melanocytes
• Absence of the 'maturation' typical of naevus cells
• Mitoses

Superficial spreading melanoma Treatment

Superficial spreading melanoma treatment is usually done by excisional biopsy, wide local excision and possibly sentinels node biopsy. Spread of disease to local lymph nodes or distant sites (typically brain, bone, skin and lung) marks a decidedly poor prognosis.

Main article - Melanoma Skin Cancer Fact