title: Malignant melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanoma is being diagnosed, treated, and followed more and more by dermatologists. It is important that we understand its biology, the background behind recommended treatment protocols, and how to follow patients long-term.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To highlight topics related to melanoma that are often taken for granted or misunderstood so that we can offer these patients a more rational approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We explored the concepts of melanoma growth and spread and the basis for its current treatment modalities and prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malignant melanoma is still a difficult disease to control. There is however a great fund of knowledge regarding its behavior that we already possess. By analyzing old and new concepts regarding its pathology and integrating them together we can simplify and enhance our approach to its treatment.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zitelli
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery