title: Comparison of melanoma guidelines in the U.S.A., Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand: a critical appraisal and comprehensive review.
abstract: There are several well-established guidelines for the staging of melanoma and the size of excisional margins, along with recommendations for sentinel lymph node biopsy. Guidelines have been proposed in the U.S.A. (National Comprehensive Cancer Network), Canada (Cancer Care Ontario and Canadian Medical Association), Europe (European Society for Medical Oncology) and Australia and New Zealand (Australian Cancer Network). The guidelines set by these groups are largely based on current evidence, or expert panel consensus where evidence is lacking. The recommendations are more controversial and varying where there is a lack of level-one evidence in the literature (e.g. screening, adjuvant therapy, follow-up intensity). We review the evidence and available literature for the management of melanoma worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Z V
authors.initials: ZV
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Tanabe
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D002170:Canada; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000379:methods; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D009520:New Zealand; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States