title: Surgical therapy of cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: For most solid tumors therapy has evolved from surgery alone to a multidisciplinary approach. Malignant melanoma remains an exception, with surgery maintaining the principal role not only for treatment of the primary lesion but also staging and the management of advanced disease. The surgical management of melanoma has evolved over the years, resulting in a substantial decrease in the morbidity associated with treatment without a compromise in outcome. This article will review the changes that have occurred leading to the current surgical approach to melanoma, the evidence behind these recommendations, and new questions that need to be addressed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Dan G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Blazer
authors.forename: Vernon K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Sondak
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sabel
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008545:Melanoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate