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Melanoma Types and Forms

Based on the horizontal or vertical spreading (growing) directions, as well as based on the areas of skin usually more affected, there are several types of melanoma:

  • Superficial spreading melanoma – is an expanding discolored and sometimes bleeding surface of skin. It is also referred to as “thin melanoma” and is a most common type of melanoma which is usually easy diagnosed. This type of melanoma has the tendency to spread out rapidly over the top of the skin surface and thus is less dangerous for intruding into other parts of the organisms. Still this may happen unless the melanoma cells are removed.
  • Nodular melanoma – usually consists in dome-shaped, darkly pigmented lesions or blackish colored lumps or nodules (other colors such as reddish, brown, or even skin tone are possible) that may appear in any area of skin, regardless if a lesion occurred there before. It accounts for approx. 35% of “thick melanoma” cases. The “bumps” are growing vertically into the deeper skin layer (called dermis) and thus are less easy to observe. This is not a prevalent type of melanoma (accounting for about 15% of diagnosed cases in the U.S.), however it is a dangerous type because it may easily spread inside the body affecting other organs (e.g., through lymphs and/or blood – depending how deep the melanoma growth is). This type of melanoma may remain undiagnosed until late stages when no melanoma treatment is efficient anymore. It is characterized by rapid growth and usually affects people over fifty years of age. This type of cancer has little to no relation to sun exposure.
  • Lentigo maligna melanoma – consists in a spreading flat patch on the skin colored in various shades of brown and with irregular borders 9with or without dark nodules). It is a slow growing  melanoma limited to the upper portion of the skin. A rapid growth may also be possible. It occurs around hair follicles of the sun-damaged skin spreading horizontally at the surface of the skin. It may easily be mistaken with the well-known “age spots” This type of melanoma accounts for only about 5% of diagnosed melanoma cases in the U.S.
  • Acral lentiginous melanoma – is also called hidden melanoma because it usually appears in parts of the body that may easily escape unnoticed, such as under a nail, on palm or sole, or on mucous membranes etc. Asian people and people with dark skin are more at risk for developing this type of melanoma. This type of melanoma accounts for approximately 5% of diagnosed melanoma cases in the U.S.