Gene Expression Profiling

How certain can I be that I have melanoma?

Gene Expression Profiling is a test that looks at the genes expressed by a melanoma. The test generates a score which can separate melanoma from harmless moles.

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What is the risk that my melanoma will come back?

Gene Expression Profiling can also be used to rate how likely a melanoma is to spread after it’s been treated. While very thin melanomas can by ‘cured’ with simple removal; deep melanomas often require that the lymph nodes be checked (sentinel lymph node biopsy) and removed if positive. But what about the ‘in between’ melanomas? A certain percentage of the 60,000 patients diagnosed with early stage melanoma each year will see their melanoma spread at some point after the original melanoma is removed.

Traditional staging of a melanoma deeper than 0.75-1.0mm requires checking the lymph nodes with a procedure called sentinel lymph node biopsy. A positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB+) result upstages a patient from Stage I or II to Stage III. While Stage III patients have the highest risk for their melanomas spreading, about 2 out of every 3 patients that have melanoma spread are Stage I or II, including those who had a SLNB with a negative result.

Gene Expression Profiling can help us determine how likely it is for a melanoma to spread after surgical removal. This is important because if you have a high risk melanoma, you may need to have a body scan exam with CT (computed tomography) or PET (positron emission tomography) scans.

LOCATION

Kind Dermatology and Medical Spa
601 East Arrellaga St Suite 101
Santa Barbara, 93103
Phone: 805-687-5538 
Fax: 805-687-5530

OFFICE HOURS

Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

GET IN TOUCH

 805-687-5538