Melanoma

This is a malignant tumor that arises from cells that produce melanin. The primary tumor usually affects the skin, less frequently various mucous membranes, the eyeball, meninges. The most common is skin melanoma. In women, melanoma forms on the lower limbs, in men – on the trunk, also affecting exposed body areas. Factors contributing to melanoma include exposure to sunlight, trauma to moles.

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė