Malignant melanoma is a potentially serious type of skin cancer.
It is due to uncontrolled growth of pigment cells, called
melanocytes. New Clinical Guidelines on the Management of
Melanoma in Australia and New Zealand have been released by the
New Zealand Guidelines Group and the Australian Cancer Network.
Please refer to these for up to date information on the care of
patients with this disease. What are melanocytes? Normal
melanocytes are found in the basal layer of the epidermis, i.e.
the bottom part of the outer layer of the skin. The melanocytes
produce a protein called melanin, which protects the skin by
absorbing ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Melanocytes are found in
equal numbers in black and in white skin, but the melanocytes in
black skin produce much more melanin. People with dark brown or
black skin are very much less likely to be damaged by UV
radiation than those with white skin. Non-cancerous growth of
melanocytes results in moles (properly called benign melanocytic
naevi) and freckles (ephelide