Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer, with over 232,000 new cases and 55,000 deaths per year worldwide. Evidence suggest that amelanotic melanoma, a rarely detected subtype, is highly prevalent in people with a higher concentration of melanin-pheomelanin- in the skin. Therefore, there is a great need for novel techniques which can aid in early detection and guide doctors for better management of melanoma.
Although eumelanin, the brown-black pigment found in most melanomas, is easily detectable, the light colored pheomelanin is difficult to detect with the current microscopy techniques. Therefore, understanding the pheomelanin molecule and its role in melanoma has always been a center of attraction for scientists. In this regard, researchers have identified a novel microscopy technique that can be a breakthrough in understanding the underlying mechanisms and early detection of…
