Definition

A measure of how deeply a melanoma tumor has grown into the skin. The tumor thickness (depth) is usually measured from the top of the tumor to the deepest tumor cells. If the tumor is ulcerated (the skin is broken), it is measured from the base of the ulcer to the deepest tumor cells. Breslow depth is used to help determine the stage of cancer. Thicker tumors are linked with lower survival rates. Also called Breslow thickness.