title: Historical review of melanoma treatment and outcomes.
abstract: The surgical and medical management of melanoma has changed dramatically since the first description of melanoma as a disease entity more than 200 years ago. Refinement of surgical techniques, including evaluation of optimal surgical margins, utility of elective lymph node dissection, and incorporation of sentinel lymph node mapping as both a prognostic tool and guide for selective lymphadenectomy have lessened surgical morbidity and improved outcomes for early-stage and locally advanced melanoma. Astute clinical observations of the integrated roles of the immune system and oncogenic mutations have more recently led to improvements in survival and quality of life for advanced melanoma. Herein, we provide an overview of the most significant surgical and medical milestones in the treatment of melanoma over the past 2 centuries.
authors: Department of Medicine, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Physician's Office Building, 3rd Floor 170 Manning Drive CB# 7305, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. carrie_lee@med.unc.edu
authors: Carrie
authors: C
authors: Lee
authors: Frances
authors: F
authors: Collichio
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Ollila
authors: Stergios
authors: S
authors: Moschos
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005197:Famous Persons; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000266:history*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history* / Q000628:therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm