Blood Test for Melanoma: Function, Outcomes, and Staging Level
In the quest to detect and manage melanoma, a range of diagnostic tools and tests are utilised by healthcare providers. These tools provide distinct information that helps define the presence, extent, and stage of melanoma, guiding prognosis and treatment strategies.
Skin examination and dermatoscopy play a pivotal role in the early detection of suspicious moles or lesions. A healthcare provider visually inspects these areas, often using a handheld dermatoscope for magnified and illuminated views. This aids the clinical suspicion of melanoma.
However, for a definitive diagnosis, a biopsy is required. This involves removing a tissue sample from the suspicious lesion and examining it microscopically. Biopsy types include excisional (removal of the entire lesion) and punch biopsy. This procedure is crucial for confirming cancer, measuring tumor thickness (an important prognostic factor), and determining invasiveness.
If the melanoma is thick or shows higher risk features, doctors may perform a sentinel lymph node biopsy. This test involves removing the nearest lymph node to check if cancer has spread, helping with staging and prognosis but not improving survival by itself.
Imaging scans, such as CT, PET, and MRI, are used if melanoma is suspected to have spread beyond local sites. These scans help detect metastasis in lymph nodes or organs, informing staging and treatment planning.
Emerging methods like high-frequency acoustic microscopy combined with infrared spectroscopy offer detailed 3D images of tumor structure and biochemical changes early in melanoma development. These are primarily experimental at this stage.
Other specialized tests include reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), a noninvasive “optical biopsy” method to examine skin layers without cutting, and adhesive patch testing, which removes surface skin cells for analysis.
Blood tests can indicate how well a person's organs are functioning and whether they can undergo certain tests and procedures. The type of treatment a patient receives may determine the markers a doctor tests. For instance, high blood levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) can mean a melanoma is more advanced and may be harder to treat.
A medical history may include questions about tanning bed exposure and family history of skin cancer. Imaging tests like X-rays, ultrasound, CT scans, MRI scans, and PET scans allow doctors to see inside the body for spreading cancer.
Other blood serum markers to monitor melanoma treatment include S100 and melanoma-inhibitory activity (MIA). In older research from 2017, MIA was suggested as a useful marker to monitor the efficacy of immunotherapy in people with metastatic melanoma.
Lab testing involves pathologists examining biopsy samples using microscopes. Red blood cells transport oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the rest of the body, while white blood cells are immune system cells that fight infection. In the context of melanoma, white blood cell counts can act as prognostic markers to help doctors estimate a person's overall chance of survival.
It's important to note that melanoma is not diagnosed using a blood test. Learn more about LDH testing for further insights.
During a physical exam, doctors check for lymph node swelling and the appearance and locations of skin cancer lesions.
In summary, a combination of medical history, physical exam, dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), spectroscopic devices, adhesive patch testing, skin biopsy, lab testing, and imaging tests are employed in diagnosing melanoma. These tools provide valuable information about the presence, extent, and stage of melanoma, guiding prognosis and treatment strategies.
- Testing for melanoma involves a series of diagnostic tools such as skin examination, dermatoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), spectroscopic devices, and adhesive patch testing, which aid in the early detection of suspicious moles or lesions.
- For a definitive diagnosis of melanoma, a biopsy is required, either excisional or punch biopsy, to remove a tissue sample from the suspicious lesion for microscopic examination.
- If the melanoma is thick or shows higher risk features, a sentinel lymph node biopsy may be performed to check for metastatic cancer, helping with staging and prognosis.
- Imaging scans like CT, PET, and MRI are used when melanoma is suspected to have spread beyond local sites, providing valuable information about potential metastasis in lymph nodes or organs for staging and treatment planning.
