8 May 2023 • Dermatologists in the US have detected the world's smallest skin cancer, measuring just 0.65 mm or 0.025 inches. The astounding discovery was made when a woman visited a skin care specialist, concerned about another red spot underneath her eye for years. While examining Christy Staats' skin, the dermatologist saw another blemish on the same right cheek. The tiny spot, almost invisible to the human eye, was later identified as melanoma - the deadliest type of skin cancer - by experts at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU).

The spot is so tiny that it has been awarded a Guinness World Record, according to the university's website. On May 1, a judge from the Guinness World Records came to OHSU to award each team member a certificate for their newly-earned record.

The university's website said that the doctor, along with a multi-disciplinary team, used a combination of dermoscopy and Reflectance Confocal Microscopy to identify the micro-skin cancer.

This peer-reviewed and scientifically-validated skin cancer is a micro-melanoma in-situ, a type of cancer that is found exclusively on the top layer of the skin. May is national Skin Cancer/Melanoma Awareness month. This finding emphasizes the importance of early cancer detection.

Source: OHSU | Read full story