ABSTRACT
Malignant melanoma (MM) is a tumour of melanocytes, predominantly of the skin. Risk factors for MM include: fair skin (especially with red hair and freckles), a history of excessive exposure to strong sunlight, the presence of numerous melanocytic naevi (particularly clinically atypical moles), and a family history of MM. In most cases MM passes through an initial radial growth phase prior to adopting an invasive and metastasing phenotype (vertical growth phase). Melanomas which are greater than 4 mm in depth at presentation are associated with a mortality rate of 50% at 5 years. All patients with a suspected MM should be referred urgently to a dermatologist.
