Recurring melanoma--a case study.
BACKGROUND
Melanoma occurs more frequently in Australia then anywhere else in the world, and has a notoriously unpredictable prognosis and the potential for very late recurrence.


OBJECTIVE
This article presents a case study of a patient who experienced a local melanoma recurrence 19 years after initial diagnosis and treatment, and again 8 years later.


CONCLUSIONS
Definitive treatment, followed by a long disease free period and the cessation of specialist follow up, may lull one into believing a melanoma is 'cured'. As the main long term medical provider, the general practitioner is uniquely placed to detect late recurrence at a stage that could allow life saving treatment.
Tomas
Steven
S
stomas101@australiaonline.net.au
D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D013997:Time Factors