Clark's level

Clark's Level

Clark's Level (pronunciation: /klɑːrkz lɛvəl/) is a system used in the field of Dermatology and Oncology to describe the depth of penetration of Melanoma in the skin. It was named after Wallace H. Clark Jr., a pathologist who developed the system in the 1960s.

Etymology

The term "Clark's Level" is derived from the name of Wallace H. Clark Jr., who was a prominent pathologist at the University of Pennsylvania. He developed this system to provide a more detailed understanding of the depth of invasion of melanoma, which is a critical factor in determining the prognosis and treatment plan for patients.

Description

Clark's Level is a five-stage system that describes the depth of penetration of melanoma into the skin. The levels are as follows:

• Level I: Melanoma is confined to the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin). This is also known as in situ melanoma.
• Level II: Melanoma has invaded the papillary dermis, the uppermost layer of the dermis.
• Level III: Melanoma has filled the papillary dermis and is beginning to invade the reticular dermis, the deeper layer of the dermis.
• Level IV: Melanoma is fully within the reticular dermis.
• Level V: Melanoma has invaded the subcutaneous tissue, the layer of fat and connective tissue beneath the dermis.

Related Terms

• Melanoma
• Dermatology
• Oncology
• Pathology
• Epidermis
• Papillary Dermis
• Reticular Dermis
• Subcutaneous Tissue

See Also

• Breslow's depth
• TNM staging system

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Clark's level
• Wikipedia's article - Clark's level

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