title: Surgical management of suspicious melanocytic lesions in Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In melanoma, the surgical approach is important for both diagnosis and therapy. Although surgery is relatively simple, the methods should be performed by experts in melanoma management. We analyze the techniques and methods used in the Italian hospital network for suspicious skin lesions and confirmed melanomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationwide survey was conducted of a representative sample of 120 hospitals with ≥ 200 beds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Excision biopsies remove suspected melanomas. However, some approaches to excision margins and sentinel lymph node procedures differ from international protocols. Overall, 21% of centers perform excisional biopsy of a suspicious lesion using 1 cm margins, and 22% of centers perform sentinel node procedures concurrently with removal of primary melanoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standardized treatment protocols are needed for suspicious lesions and clinically evident melanoma, particularly regarding the critical aspect of excision margins. The sentinel lymph node procedure may be distorted by initial margins that are too wide.
authors.affiliation: Dermatologic Clinic, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Giorgi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ascierto
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bono
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pimpinelli
authors.forename: Vanna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chiarion-Sileni
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pizzichetta
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Testori
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stanganelli
mesh_terms: D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*