Diagnosis of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a common malignant skin disease that initially presents as abnormal changes in skin surface morphology or pigmentation. Because early lesions are often painless, they are easily overlooked. Delayed diagnosis may lead to deep tissue destruction or even distant metastasis. Timely diagnosis not only clarifies the type of lesion but also provides an important basis for treatment planning. Currently, diagnostic methods for skin cancer are becoming increasingly sophisticated, enabling earlier detection of small lesions and improving patient prognosis.

Diagnostic Basis

1. Dermoscopy
Dermoscopy is a non-invasive tool used to observe superficial and shallow skin structures. It can magnify the lesion area more than tenfold, helping doctors identify abnormal features such as pigment distribution and vascular structures. Dermoscopy allows more accurate differentiation between benign and malignant lesions, and is especially important for early melanoma detection.

2. Biopsy
The "gold standard" for confirming skin cancer is histopathological examination. Under local anesthesia, doctors remove a sample of the suspicious lesion for microscopic analysis in pathology. By observing cell morphology, mitotic activity, and the depth of cancer cell infiltration, the cancer type and stage can be definitively established, guiding subsequent treatment.

3. Imaging Assessment
For patients highly suspected of malignancy or with signs of lesion spread, imaging methods such as ultrasound, CT, or MRI are required to evaluate whether the lesion has invaded deeper skin layers, lymph nodes, or other organs. These examinations are usually used for staging and metastasis evaluation, providing evidence for comprehensive treatment decisions.

4. Serum Tumor Marker Testing
Although skin cancer does not rely as heavily on blood tests as visceral cancers, certain advanced or highly malignant skin cancers, such as malignant melanoma, may present with elevated specific tumor markers, including S100 protein and LDH. These indicators can serve as auxiliary diagnostic tools.

Conclusion

Experts from United Life International Medical Center emphasize that confirming skin cancer requires a combination of multiple diagnostic methods, as a single method is often insufficient for a full evaluation. For poorly defined or rapidly progressing lesions, dermoscopy, biopsy, and imaging examinations should be integrated for comprehensive judgment. Upon detection of abnormalities, patients should seek medical attention immediately and use scientific diagnostic methods to secure the best treatment opportunity.