Helped Over 500,000 patients with 98%+ satisfaction.

Connect & Get Personalized 1-to-1 Answers from Expert Doctors

DoctorSpring > Question Home

Abnormal discoloration in stomach. Is it melanoma?

Resolved Question:

Hello,

I'm a 25 year old male medical student. I was studying earlier this evening when I noticed this abnormal discoloration on my stomach. It's been there for some time but it looks to have grown recently. This normally would not concern me, however my mother was diagnosed with a benign form of melanoma on her right leg. I do not want to go the ER since it will be embarrassing if it turns out to be something small. I will attach an image of the area in question. Please advise if I should be freaking out right now or not... If so I will go to the ER. Thanks!


PS: it is not bumpy but on the picture it looks like it is bumpy... I don't really know what to make of that.

Category: Dermatologist

Ask Your Own Question

Category: Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeon
 18 Doctors Online

Hello

Thanks for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com

I can understand your concern.

This could be a melanoma. Its difficult to say without actually seeing it with a dermatoscope or doing a biopsy.

I would recommend that you get a dermatoscopy done for the lesion from your doctor. You can meet a dermatologist at the earliest in his office hours. After the dermatoscopy the doctor will decide whether to do the biopsy or not.

Please let me know if you have any queries.

Regards.


Patient replied :

Does it meet the basic criteria for melanoma? In terms of visualization and physical characteristics? Based on your dermatological expierience.


Hello ,

Thanks for posting your reply.

Yes it does. Variation in colour. It meets the c criteria from abcde criteria . Hence i recommended dermatoscopy and biopsy.
Hope this helps, please feel free to discuss further.

Thanks


Patient replied :

So based on your experience, does this look like it could be malignant or benign? Obviously I will not hold you to it but in your professional (speculative) expierience based on your practice, does this look serious?


The picture you have posted is of an atypical mole. This would need an investigation from your dermatologist.

The dermatologist would examine it under a dermatoscope and if then required would do a biopsy from the lesion to check whether it's a melanoma or not.

I would like to give you some information regarding moles.

A new or changing mole or blemish is the most common warning sign for melanoma. Variation in color and/or an increase in diameter, height, or asymmetry of borders of a pigmented lesion are noted.

Symptoms such as bleeding, itching, ulceration, and pain in a pigmented lesion also warrant an evaluation.

ABCDE criteria for a changing mole, which are as follows:

Asymmetry: Half the lesion does not match the other half.

Border irregularity: The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.

Color variegation: Pigmentation is not uniform and may display shades of tan, brown, or black; white, reddish, or blue discoloration is of particular concern.

Diameter: A diameter greater than 6 mm is characteristic, although some melanomas may have smaller diameters; any growth in a nevus warrants an evaluation.

Evolving: Changes in the lesion over time are characteristic.

Lesions exhibiting these features should be considered potential melanoma.

In your case, I could see a colour variation and hence i advised it to be investigated further.

Please let me know if you have any queries.
Regards.


Dr. Kruti Jobanputra Banodkar
Category: Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeon
Experience: 
Diploma in Dermatology - Royal College Of Physicians & Surgeons Of Glasgow, UK , 2010
Residency - DNB, Dermatology -  K.J Somaiya Hospital, Mumbai, 2009
Medical School & Internship - MBBS - Dr. D . Y . Patil Medical College, Mumbai, 2004
Dr. Kruti Jobanputra Banodkar and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

Users who read this, also read:

Make informed and better medical decisions.

Join the 500,000 people who found a smarter, quicker way to get Answers, Recommendations & Expert Opinions.

Expert Doctors at fingertips

Recommendation on next step. Second-opinion.Multi-specialty.

Save Time

Average time for answers: 6 hours.

Save Money

$35 for typical specialist consult vs. $120 for a local appointment.

Free Follow-ups

Clarify, ask further questions for free in private conversation.

100% Satisfaction

Money back guarantee for the 1st reply. MEDNET Quality Board.

Start My Consultation

CHAT NOW

About DoctorSpring.com

Doctor Spring is a novel online Doctor consultation platform where you can get your medical questions answered by leading Doctors. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. Once you submit the question, the Doctor from the concerned specialty will reply within hours. You can always ask more questions or add details with follow-up question options and make it an online doctor chat. You may use this service to consult a specialty or for getting medical second opinion. All paid services come with a MEDNET quality assurance and 100% money back guarantee.

DoctorSpring in news