differential diagnosis
Last reviewed 01/2018
A malignant melanoma must be discriminated from:
- benign naevi
- dermatofibroma
- pigmented basal cell carcinoma
- pyogenic granuloma
- Kaposi's sarcoma
- vascular malformations
- seborrhoeic keratosis
If the lesion is gradually changing size or pigmentation, ulcerating or bleeding, then this increases the likelihood that it is a malignant melanoma.
Histology of the lesion is required for diagnosis.