Management of malignant melanoma: best practices

Melanoma is a commonly occurring cancer in Canada, with an estimated age-standardized incidence of 10 to 13 per 100,000. An estimated 4,300 new cases were diagnosed, and there were 800 reported deaths in 2005.

The Canadian Expert Panel on Malignant Melanoma has developed best practices to improve the management of malignant melanoma. Sections include recommendations on primary diagnosis, dermatopathologic assessment, and reporting; use of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and an intraoperative gamma probe to map and biopsy the sentinel lymph node; indications for surgical resection, sentinel node biopsy, and surgery for advance disease; use of interferon-alpha adjuvant therapy and treatment options for stage IV disease; and management of central nervous system metastases.