Educational Intervention and Melanoma Prognosis in Black People.

A systematic search was conducted on the PubMed database using the keywords "education," "melanoma," and "African Americans." The results were filtered to include studies published within the last decade that focused on melanoma diagnosis, risk, or outcomes. These selected studies included African Americans, non-Hispanic Black individuals, or those with darker skin tones and compared them with educational interventions or non-Hispanic White groups. The studies showed an overall positive impact of targeted educational initiatives on using sun-protective behaviors, health education, and self-efficacy related to melanoma. Notably, interventions proven to be effective for non-Hispanic White populations also demonstrated efficacy in other racial groups, including non-Hispanic Blacks. It was observed that non-Hispanic Blacks exhibited an overall reduced level of concern regarding melanoma, partly due to its lower incidence within this demographic. Furthermore, these studies focussed on the disparities in melanoma incidence and survival rates among different racial groups. Non-Hispanic Black individuals were found to have a higher incidence of melanoma and lower survival rates compared to non-Hispanic White individuals. Collectively, the studies evaluating melanoma educational interventions for darker skin tones yield promising results for improving melanoma prognosis in Black communities. They underscore the importance of addressing racial disparities in melanoma awareness, diagnosis, and treatments. These studies also highlighted the barriers to sun protection behaviors, such as cost, limited awareness, and misconceptions, particularly prevalent among ethnic communities and youth. The use of melanoma photographs specifically tailored to darker skin tones in outreach efforts to enhance identification, self-examination, and early detection should be considered to improve melanoma prognosis similar to the non-White population.

Extensive Scalp Melanoma in an Elderly Female: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Scalp melanoma is a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer. Its occurrence in the elderly population poses unique challenges due to factors such as delayed diagnosis and comorbidities. We present a case of extensive scalp melanoma in an elderly female to highlight the clinical presentation, diagnostic process, treatment modalities, and outcomes. Biopsy and histopathological analysis showed the presence of dysplastic nevi arising in pigmented melanocytic nevi, with uncertain pagetoid spread of atypical melanocytes. The management involved complete excision with safety margins and immunotherapy based on melanoma guidelines. This case underscores the importance of early detection and tailored treatment strategies in managing melanoma in elderly patients.