Urine melanin is a test to determine the abnormal presence of melanin in the urine.
Thormahlen's test; Melanin - urine
A clean-catch urine sample is needed.
No special preparation is needed.
The test involves only normal urination.
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.
Normally, melanin is not present in urine.
If melanin is present in the urine, malignant melanoma is suspected.
There are no risks associated with this test.
This test is rarely performed as there are better diagnostic tests available.
Review Date: 8/24/2009
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