A 25-year-old female complains of a mole on her upper back. The lesion is 6 mm in diameter, darkly pigmented, and asymmetric, with a very irregular border. The next step in management is:: (A) Tell the patient to avoid sunlight, (B) Follow the lesion for any evidence of growth, (C) Obtain metastatic workup, (D) Obtain full-thickness excisional biopsy
Answer is D. Ans. D. Obtain full-thickness excisional biopsya. The lesion has characteristics of melanoma (pigmentation, asymmetry, irregular border), and a full-thickness excisional biopsy is required. Shave biopsy of a suspected melanoma is always contraindicated.b. Diagnosis is urgent; the lesion cannot be observed over time. Once the diagnosis of melanoma is made, the tumor must then be staged to determine prognosis and treatment.