malignant melanoma: staging

• level I: all tumor cells above basement membrane (in situ)
• level II: tumor extends to papillary dermis
• level III: tumor extends to interface between papillary and reticular dermis
• level IV: tumor extends between bundles of collagen of reticular dermis
• level V: tumor invasion of sucutaneous tissue (87% metastases)

Breslow staging:

• thin: < 0.75 mm depth of invasion
• intermediate: 0.76 - 3.99 mm depth of invasion
• thick: > 4 mm depth of invasion

see: malignant melanoma

© 2002, C.E. Kahn, Jr.
2002-04-18