Surgery by laser for malignant melanoma.

Lasers have been used for photocoagulation and photoexcision of malignant melanomas when conventional instruments could not be used. Lasers are useful for destruction of cutaneous metastases from malignant melanomas especially when numerous and dispersed. The color of melanomas makes for selective absorption of energy from lasers in the visible light range. Surgery by lasers is still an investigative form of surgery with current research studies on immediate placement of grafts, lymphatic migration of malignant cells after laser surgery, and relevant immunologic studies.