Malignant melanoma. A clinical and surgical review. Part II: Diagnosis and treatment.

Malignant melanoma, the leading cause of death from disease of the skin, often is found on the lower extremity. A thorough understanding of the disease entity is essential, because misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can be fatal. In Part I of this two-part clinical and surgical review of malignant melanoma, the authors discussed etiology, risk factors, signs, symptoms, clinical features, and growth patterns. Part II places special emphasis on diagnosing malignant melanoma and differentiating it from other lesions of the lower extremity. Clinical staging of the tumor and the corresponding surgical criteria are presented from a podiatric medical standpoint.