Small lesions can be removed by a variety of techniques, including simple excision (cutting it), electrodesiccation and curettage (burning of tissue with an electric needle) and cryosurgery (freezing the area with liquid nitrogen).
Larger tumors, lesions at high risk locations, recurrent tumors, and lesions in cosmetically sensitive areas, removed by Mohs micrographic surgery. The surgeon carefully removes layer after layer of tissue until the cancer-free tissue is reached.
Malignant melanoma is treated more aggressively than just surgical removal. To ensure the complete elimination of this dangerous malignancy, 1-2 cm in a normal skin around the tumor are also removed. In some cases, when available is the removal is achieved using Mohs micrographic surgery. Depending on the thickness of melanoma, nearby lymph nodes may be removed and tested for cancer. The method of sentinel lymph node uses a slightly radioactive substance to identify lymph nodes most likely to be affected.
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