{"id":5443,"date":"2011-02-22T19:00:51","date_gmt":"2011-02-22T18:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T11:39:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T10:39:08","slug":"melanoma-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-diagnosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Melanoma diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"im26-diagnosis-guide\">\n<nav class=\"im26-dg-toc\" aria-label=\"On this page\"><strong>On this page<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#guide-section-1\">Your history and examination<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#guide-section-2\">Dermoscopy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#guide-section-3\">Biopsy and histology<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#guide-section-4\">Monitoring and additional techniques<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#guide-section-5\">Questions for your doctor<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<section id=\"guide-section-1\" class=\"im26-dg-section\">\n<h2>1. Your history and examination<\/h2>\n<p>The doctor asks when the lesion appeared, how it has changed, about symptoms and any personal or family history of melanoma. They examine your skin and identify lesions needing further assessment. Bring previous reports and point out areas that are difficult to check.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"guide-section-2\" class=\"im26-dg-section\">\n<h2>2. Dermoscopy<\/h2>\n<p>A dermatoscope reveals structures that cannot be assessed with the naked eye. It helps the doctor decide whether monitoring or further investigation is appropriate. <strong>It does not replace histology when this is needed.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"im26-dg-gallery\">\n<figure><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/dermatoscopio.jpg\" aria-label=\"Dermatoscope: image from the site archive.\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/dermatoscopio.jpg\" width=\"528\" height=\"563\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dermatoscope: image from the site archive.\"\/><\/a><figcaption>Dermatoscope: image from the site archive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"guide-section-3\" class=\"im26-dg-section\">\n<h2>3. Biopsy and histology<\/h2>\n<p>For a suspicious lesion, the doctor may recommend removal for microscopic examination. Where feasible, an excisional biopsy removes the whole lesion; its location and size may require a different approach. A pathologist assesses the tissue to establish the diagnosis.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"guide-section-4\" class=\"im26-dg-section\">\n<h2>4. Monitoring and additional techniques<\/h2>\n<p>Clinical and dermoscopic photographs can document changes over time in selected patients. Specialist centres may use confocal microscopy in particular cases. These techniques cannot always rule out melanoma and do not automatically remove the need for a biopsy.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"guide-section-5\" class=\"im26-dg-section\">\n<h2>Questions for your doctor<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Why do you recommend monitoring or removal?<\/li>\n<li>How and when will I receive the report?<\/li>\n<li>Which changes should I report before my next appointment?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<aside class=\"im26-dg-related\">\n<h2>Continue reading<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-diagnosis\/dermoscopy\/\">Dermatoscopy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/istopatologia-del-melanoma\/\">Histopathology of melanoma<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/staging-of-melanoma\/\">Staging and prognosis<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-sources\">\n<h2>Sources and update<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.airc.it\/cancro\/informazioni-tumori\/guida-ai-tumori\/melanoma-cutaneo\" rel=\"noopener\">AIRC \u2014 Melanoma cutaneo<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dermnetnz.org\/topics\/melanoma\" rel=\"noopener\">DermNet \u2014 Melanoma<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Editorial update: 16 October 2026. This information provides guidance and does not replace a medical assessment.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From noticing a skin lesion to a diagnosis: clinical examination, dermoscopy and histology have different roles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"parent":4144,"menu_order":9,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5443","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Melanoma diagnosis<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The diagnosis of melanoma is mainly performed through an excisional biopsy, even if the dermatologist is able to determine the presence of a suspected melanoma through an accurate anamnesis, a clinical inspection and with diagnostic tests.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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