Patient-identified early clinical warning signs of nodular melanoma: a qualitative study

BMC Cancer

Susan M. Swetter¹  Catherine Bergeron²  Annett Körner²  Kyla Brophy²  Chelsea Moran³  Jessica A. Davine⁴  Adina Coroiu⁴  Alan C. Geller⁴  Hensin Tsao⁵ 

[1] Department of Dermatology, Pigmented Lesion and Melanoma Program, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, USA;Dermatology Service, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, USA;Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada;Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada;Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, West Wing 4th floor, 403G, 02215, Boston, MA, USA;Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA;Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA;

关键词: Nodular melanoma;    Superficial spreading melanoma;    Patient-identified early signs;    Semi-structured interviews;    Thematic analysis;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12885-021-08072-4

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundNodular (NM) and superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) show different disease trajectories, with more rapid development in NM and fewer opportunities for early detection often resulting in worse outcomes. Our study described the patient-identified early signs of thin NM via comparisons to thin (≤ 2 mm) SSM and thick (> 2 mm) NM.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with NM and SSM patients and analyzed the data using thematic analysis.ResultsWe enrolled 34 NM and 32 SSM patients. Melanoma early signs uniquely identified by patients with thin NM included white, blue or black coloration, “dot-like” size, fast changes in shape and color observed over 2 weeks, elevation and texture or “puffiness” over 6–12 months, and the sensation that the mole “did not feel right”. Early signs reported by both thin NM and thin SSM patients included round or oblong shape, “jagged” border, pink/red, brown/reddish or dark coloration, “elevated like a pimple” or “tiny bump”, fast color darkening, diameter growth, and border irregularity, and mole feeling “really itchy”.ConclusionsWe found evidence that early signs of NM can be self-identified, which has important implications for the earlier detection of this most aggressive type of melanoma by both health professionals and patients.

【 授权许可】

CC BY