If melanoma is identified, staging is performed to learn the
extent of the disease. Staging is helpful to known how deeply the melanoma has
invaded the skin and whether it have spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts
of the body.
Stage 0 - The melanoma cells are found only in the outer
layer of skin cells and have not invaded deeper tissues.
Stage I - Melanoma cells are thin and have not spread
to nearby lymph nodes. The outer layer (epidermis) of skin may appear scraped.
This is called an ulceration
Stage II - The tumor is at least 1 millimeter thick.
The melanoma cells have not spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage III - The melanoma cells have spread to nearby
tissues Stage IV - The melanoma cells have spread to other organs, to lymph
nodes, or to skin areas far away from the original tumor.
