The diagnosis of malignant melanoma may be delayed for a number of reasons.
Reasons why the diagnosis of malignant melanoma may be delayed:
(1) not observed by the patient (due to location or visual problems)
(2) not observed by someone else (spouse, family member, etc)
(3) amelanotic or reddish
(4) unexpected appearance
(4a) pedunculated, polypoid or exophytic mass
(4b) thin and flat
(5) unexpected location
(6) physician-based delay (inexperience, atypical appearance, lack of concern, etc)
(7) noncompliance by the patient in having the lesion excised
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Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Surgery, general, Dermatology
