Diagnosis and Management of Melanoma of the Scalp: A Review of the Literature
October 2021
in “
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology
”
TLDR Scalp melanoma, a deadly skin cancer, is often found late due to its hard-to-see location, especially in older men. Early detection, possible treatments, and the role of hairdressers in spotting it early are discussed. More research is needed to improve detection and treatment.
The document reviews the diagnosis and management of scalp melanoma, a type of skin cancer that accounts for 20% of melanoma cases and has a high mortality rate. It is often diagnosed late due to its location and difficulty in self-examination. The disease is more common in elderly men, likely due to higher rates of androgenetic alopecia and increased ultraviolet damage on the scalp. Early detection, through routine scalp examination especially in high-risk populations, is crucial for better prognosis. Various treatment options include surgical excision, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy depending on the presence of BRAF mutation. The document also highlights the role of hairdressers in early detection and the use of dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy in diagnosis. The paper concludes that more research is needed to improve early detection and treatment strategies for scalp melanoma.
