Question

a nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching with a client who is postoperative following a surgical excision of a basal cell carcinoma. which of the following findings should the nurse include as an indication of malignancy of a mole?

ulceration
blanching of surrounding skin
dimpling
fading of color

Explanation:

To determine the indication of mole malignancy, we analyze each option:

• Ulceration: Malignant moles (melanoma or other skin cancers) can ulcerate as the cancerous cells disrupt normal tissue, leading to breakdown.
• Blanching of surrounding skin: Not a typical sign of mole malignancy. Blanching is more related to vascular or inflammatory issues, not cancerous changes in moles.
• Dimpling: Dimpling is more associated with breast cancer (e.g., in breast tissue due to tumor invasion of ligaments) and not a common sign of mole malignancy.
• Fading of color: Malignant moles usually show changes like darkening, irregular color, not fading. Fading is not a typical indicator of malignancy.

So, ulceration is a sign of mole malignancy.

Answer:

Ulceration