title: How pathologic staging informs the surgical management of primary cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: In this brief review, the authors will summarize recent changes in the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system, with a particular emphasis on the prognostic importance of mitotic rate and microsatellitosis, and address continuing controversial aspects of the surgical management of cutaneous melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Balch
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods