| Nodular melanoma
is the second most common subtype
of melanoma. It represents 15% of all melanomas.
The most common sites for
nodular melanoma are the trunk, head, and neck.
The patients are usually in the
fifth decade of life.
It is more common for nodular
melanoma to begin in normal skin rather than in a pre-existing lesion.
Macroscopically, the lesion presents
as a nodular, polypoid or pedunculated dark brown or blue black
lesion. Lesion may also present as an amelanotic nodule.
Image Link (DermAtlas)
Microscopic features:
In nodular melanoma there is
minimal or no radial growth phase. Image1 ;
Image2
Histologically, the dermal component is usually composed of epithelioid
type of cells . There is epidermal invasion directly over the dermal
component . No adjacent intraepidermal component is seen.
|