Does the Mole Always Come Before the Melanoma?

General

Do Melanomas Arise From Preexisting Moles?

It’s a widely held assumption that melanomas are malignant transformations of moles. But it turns out that most are not.

A recent study  reported that only 29% of more than 20,000 melanomas were associated with a preexisting nevus, and 71% arose de novo. Patients whose melanomas came from a mole were significantly younger, by about 5 years. And those melanomas tended to be less thick. The most common locations for melanoma in both groups were extremities and the trunk.

These findings suggest that patients should be taught not only to look for changes in existing moles, but to inspect their skin for any new lesions. In addition to risk factor assessment, clinicians can use the “EFG” rule—elevation, growing, and firm—when deciding which patients should be referred to a dermatologist.

General
New European HTN Guidelines Hit Hard With Initial Therapy, Keep ‘High-Normal’ Label

he new European guidelines for diagnosing and managing arterial hypertension maintain the previous classification system based on blood pressure  (BP) levels but recommends a harder-hitting initial treatment approach compared to the previous version, released in 2013. The 2018 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and European Society of Hypertension (ESH) guidelines document …

General
Splenic Abscess Treatment & Management

Once the diagnosis of a splenic abscess has been made, the patient must be admitted to the hospital and treated. Treatment depends on the patient’s overall condition, comorbidities, and primary disorder (if any), as well as the size and topography of the abscess. [22] Empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy has a primary …

General
How to Use Condoms Safely

  If you’re looking for protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) without a prescription, condoms may be a good option to explore. They’re discrete, relatively inexpensive, and don’t involve any synthetic hormones. Condoms are also readily available at your nearest convenience or drug store. What are the safest …

Show Buttons
Hide Buttons