Cutaneous malignant melanoma.
Skin cancer has become the most common neoplasm in the United States. With early diagnosis and appropriate management, most skin cancers have an overall 5-year survival rate of 95%. Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), however, has a significantly higher morbidity and mortality, resulting in 65% of all skin cancer deaths. Although the long-term survival rate for patients with metastatic melanoma is only 5%, early detection of CMM carries an excellent prognosis, with surgical excision often being curative. Primary care physicians can play a critical role in reducing morbidity and mortality from CMM by recognizing patients at risk, encouraging the adoption of risk-reducing behaviors, and becoming adept at identifying suspicious lesions.
Cummins
Deborah L
DL
Department of Dermatology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Cummins
Jordan M
JM
Pantle
Hardin
H
Silverman
Michael A
MA
Leonard
Aimee L
AL
Chanmugam
Arjun
A
D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends