The world's smallest skin cancer has been identified.
Detail of a person with a malignant melanoma, which is a malignant skin tumor that involves the skin cells that produce pigment.
Thanks to the efforts of dermatologists at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), this tiny skin cancer is now in the Guinness World Record.
According to OHSU's official website, skin cancer was discovered on Christy Staats' cheek.
At first, it was invisible to the naked eye because it measured only 0.65 millimeters. But, with the help of cutting-edge non-invasive tech, OHSU dermatologists were able to spot it.
World's Smallest Skin Cancer Now in Guinness Record!
Interesting Engineering reported that OHSU dermatologists used a skin lesion-examining technique called dermoscopy.
A doctor from the American Academy of Dermatology checks Christine Trerotoli for signs of skin cancer on May 3, 2004, at Bryant Park in New York City. The American Academy of Dermatology offered free skin cancer screenings at the day-long clinic and gave advice on how to protect your skin from the sun.
They also relied on Reflectance Confocal Microscopy, allowing OHSU doctors to identify the small skin cancer at an early stage.
"It was found before it had the opportunity to spread to other parts of the body," said OHSU School of Medicine Assistant Prof. Alexander Witkowski.
This health discovery was made in January. But, the Guinness World Records awarded the OHSU team on May 1.
Each of the team members received a certificate from the Guinness World Records for their hard work.
What Kind of Cancer Is It?
Dermatologists from OHSU confirmed that the tiniest skin cancer on Staats' cheek is melanoma; a cancer that develops when melanocytes grow out of control.
This cancer makes the patient's skin tan or brown. It may look harmless at first, but once melanoma spreads across the body, this cancer can be difficult to treat.
In some cases, it can even be deadly to the patient. To help you understand melanoma, here are some facts about it:
- Melanoma can develop even if your skin has never had sun damage.
- There are some instances when this skin cancer is colorless; sometimes appearing as pink spots.
- Around 70% of skin melanomas occur in normal skin. The remaining percent can start in pre-existing moles.
- Some lucky patients with melanoma no longer need to have treatment since this skin cancer can go away on its own.
These are just some of the fun facts about melanomas. To learn more, all you need to do is click here.
In other news, a new antibody-based therapy, which can be used against aggressive prostate cancer, was recently introduced.
We also reported about the new colon cancer-predicting AI, which Harvard researchers developed.
For more news updates about cancers and other health topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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