Recent ACMS News

Congratulations to the 2009 ACMS Award Winners!

Frederic E. Mohs Award
Neil A. Swanson, MD

Theodore Tromovitch Award
Vinh Q. Chung, MD

Distinguished Service Award
Scott A. B. Collins, MD


Annual Meeting Photos
Check out the photos from the ACMS 41st Annual Meeting!


Attention ACMS Members: The Members Only section of the website has been updated allowing you to update your own Surgeon Finder and contact information as well as to pay your dues online. Visit now to see the new updates!

What is Melanoma and what does it look like?

Melanoma is the most deadly skin cancer, but has an excellent prognosis if it is caught early.

Though melanoma may occur any where on your skin, melanoma is found most often on the legs of women or the backs of men. It is usually a brown to black lesion which is not uniform in border, color or surface. The "ABCDE's of melanoma" have been described to help distinguish a regular mole from melanoma. The acronym stands for Asymmetry (most healthy moles are uniform), Border (irregular), Color (irregular or change in), Diameter (larger than a pencil eraser-not reliable), and Evolving (changing). Melanomas on chronically sun-damaged skin like the face may appear like a brown patch or freckle with irregular color.

Melanomas may be treated with Mohs Micrographic Surgery.

« return
Home