History & Overview Annual Report President's Pages Center News Community Affairs
Make a Gift Yankees Universe Fund Fred's Team Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund Donating Blood & Platelets Volunteering Thrift Shop Park Avenue Potluck Cookbook
Press Releases Information for Journalists News@MSKCC
Manhattan New Jersey Long Island Westchester
Working at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Work Sites College Recruitment About Nursing Job Fairs & Career Days Job Search & Apply Online
Making an Appointment
Newly Diagnosed?
We Can Help
Newly Diagnosed? We Can Help
Getting the correct diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment from the start is crucial

Many suspected melanomas are first noticed by the patient or by a family member and brought to the attention of a doctor. To make a diagnosis, the doctor will take a complete medical history and also question the patient about his or her history of sun exposure, history of normal and abnormal moles, and family history of skin conditions.

The doctor will also perform a skin examination and may also check for enlarged lymph nodes, which can indicate that a cancer has spread.

If the doctor believes there is any cause for concern about a particular mole or patch of skin, he or she will perform a biopsy, in which all or part of the growth is surgically removed. This is usually done in the doctor's office using a local anesthetic.

The skin that was removed is then examined under a microscope by a pathologist to determine if any cancer is present. If a skin cancer is diagnosed, your doctor will then be able to advise you about the optimal treatment.

Flash Player is required to view this video.
CancerSmart Web Cast
March 22, 2007 -- Drs. Hadley Claire King, Kishwer Nehal, and Jedd Wolchok present "The latest developments in the screening and treatment of skin cancer." Total Run time: 55 minutes

Confocal Microscopy

Memorial Sloan-Kettering's physicians are evaluating a new technique for examination of skin lesions, called confocal microscopy. This specialized technique provides sharply focused microscopic images of the superficial layers of the skin.

Unlike conventional microscopy (which requires that a skin sample be removed by invasive biopsy, fixed, and thinly sliced), confocal microscopy can be used on live, intact cells and tissue. In vivo confocal microscopy is being studied as a potential non-invasive aid to the diagnosis of skin cancer.

Ocular Melanoma

Diagnosis of ocular melanoma is usually made without biopsy and is based on the appearance of the tumor, ultrasound characteristics, or other test results. Digital photography of the inside of the eye aids in diagnosis. Many conditions other than melanoma of the eye are often confused with true melanomas.


Last Updated: Jul. 16, 2004
PrintEmail This Page