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Emergency and Trauma Services is the only Level I Trauma Center in the area and serves as the tertiary referral center for medical care in East Tennessee, serving Knox County and 21 surrounding counties.
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The Heart Lung Vascular Institute brings together expertise in clinical care, teaching and research. Patients receive exceptional healthcare combined with patient-centered care.
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Urine melanin
Definition
Urine melanin is a test to determine the abnormal presence of melanin in the urine.
Alternative Names
Thormahlen's test; Melanin - urine
How the test is performed
A clean-catch urine sample is needed.
How to prepare for the test
No special preparation is needed.
How the test will feel
The test involves only normal urination.
Why the test is performed
This test is used to diagnose melanoma, a type of skin cancer that produces melanin. If the cancer spreads (especially within the liver), the cancer may produce enough of this substance that it shows up in the urine.
Normal Values
Normally, melanin is not present in urine.
What abnormal results mean
If melanin is present in the urine, malignant melanoma is suspected.
What the risks are
There are no risks associated with this test.
Special considerations
This test is rarely performed as there are better diagnostic tests available.
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