Johnson T M, Smith J W, Nelson B R, Chang A
Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995 May;32(5 Pt 1):689-707; quiz 708-9. doi: 10.1016/0190-9622(95)91443-9.
We review the current therapy for melanoma. The diagnosis, prognostic variables, staging, treatment, and follow-up guidelines for cutaneous melanoma are reviewed from the earliest to the most advanced stages. New guidelines for margins are discussed. A new, evolving, innovative radiographic technique, positron emission tomography using 2-fluorine-18-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose, may be useful to identify subclinical nodal and visceral disease. Recent advances with respect to tumor vaccines, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and interleukin 2 as well as current concepts regarding lymph node dissection are discussed.
