Nevoid melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It begins when the melanocytes in the skin grow out of control and form tumors. Melanocytes are the cells responsible for making melanin, the pigment that determines the color of the skin.
Nevoid melanoma is challenging to diagnose because it looks a lot like a benign skin mole. It can be any color, including brown, black, blue, or red. It tends to be dome-shaped.
Molecular tests, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), can be helpful in diagnosing nevoid melanoma. These tests are readily available at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Treatment for Nevoid Melanoma
Nevoid melanoma is highly curable when diagnosed early. The goals for treatment of nevoid melanoma are to:
- cure the cancer
- preserve the appearance of your skin
- prevent the cancer from coming back
The extent and depth of the melanoma guides your care plan. Treatment often involves surgery to remove the melanoma. If the melanoma is more advanced and has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes or internal organs, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or a combination of therapies may be used to shrink the tumor.
