title: Long-term follow-up for melanoma patients: is there any evidence of a benefit?
abstract: As the incidence of melanoma and the number of melanoma survivors continues to rise, optimal surveillance strategies are needed that balance the risks and benefits of screening in the context of contemporary resource use. Detection of recurrences has important implications for clinical management. Most current surveillance recommendations for melanoma survivors are based on low-level evidence with wide variations in practice patterns and an unknown clinical impact for the melanoma survivor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 1484, 1400 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77230-1402, USA.
authors.forename: Natasha M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Rueth
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 1484, 1400 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77230-1402, USA.
authors.forename: Kate D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Cromwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 1484, 1400 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77230-1402, USA. Electronic address: jcormier@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Janice N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Cormier
mesh_terms: D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017741:Survivors
keywords: Cost-effectiveness; Diagnostic imaging; Evidence-based surveillance; Guidelines; Melanoma; Survivorship