DO NOT INCLUDE THE BELOW CASE STUDY OR QUESTIONS IN YOUR ANSWERS. USE APA STYLE WHEN REFERENCING YOUR ANSWERS. PLEASE SEE BELOW ON HOW TO USE THIS FEATURE IN MS WORD.

A 60 year old Caucasian female presented to your office with a suspicious mole on her left scapular region. She indicated that her daughter had noticed the mole and had commented that she did not remember seeing such a large mole in that location previously. Her daughter strongly urged her to have the mole looked at by a dermatologist.

The patient relayed that she had spent many hours in the sun without the benefit of a sunscreen for most of her teenage and adult life. She was an avid gardener, and spent many summer weekends boating with her family. She also reported having several severe blistering sunburnswhen she was a teenager.

Upon examination it was noted that the mole was asymmetrical, slightly raised, with irregular boarders. The color varied from light brown to darker black areas. It measured 8 mm x 10 mm. Additional smaller (~ 2-3 mm), uniformly brown, round moles were noted on her back and legs. The remainder of her skin was unremarkable. Family history was positive for melanoma.

The mole was removed by a full-thickness excisional biopsy. Microscopic analysis of the excised tissue showed proliferation of atypical melanocytes in all levels of the epidermis, with involvement of the papillary dermis.

1. What is your diagnosis? Justify your diagnosis by relating it to specific signs presented for this patient.

2. What is the ABCD rule and how does it relate to the appearance of this mole?

3. What is the significance of the size of the mole?

4. Describe the structure of the skin, including the epidermal layers, and the dermis.

5. What is a melanocyte? What is its function?

6. What is the significance of finding atypical melanocytes in all epidermal layers and in the papillary dermis?

7. What histological finding suggests that this is not a basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma?

8. Is there any significance to the history of severe sunburns and this disease? Explain.

9. Is there any significance to the history of melanoma in the family? Explain.

10. How would you follow this patient over the next several years?

Note: Your originality score from Unicheck must be 25% or below on the due date or you will receive a 0 on this assignment. You must cite all references you used in answering the questions. Use APA format for both your in text and full reference citations.

The paper must be submitted through the Canvas site.

Using MS Word to format APA style references:

1. When typing an answer that you used a reference for click on the “References” tab at the top of the screen.

2. Choose “Insert Citation”

3. Click on “Insert Citation” and choose “Add New Source”

4. Choose the type of source from the drop down and enter information and then click OK. This will enter the reference immediately after your answer.

5. This citation is now saved so if you cite the same reference again you can choose that existing citation by clicking on “Insert Citation.” If it is a new reference that you used skip back to step 3.

6. Once you are finished your case study you need to create a references page. Click on “Bibliography” and choose the “References” option. All the references that you used will now be listed.