[Malignant melanoma of the skin: current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches]

The Authors claim that the treatment of malignant melanosis of the skin is a problem of undiminished topical interest owing to its highly aggressive characteristics. Risk factors and pre-neoplastic lesions are reviewed, and the signs of malignant transformation are described along with the appropriate treatment. The Authors stress the importance, for therapeutic and prognostic purposes, of accurate clinical staging and macro- and microscopic study of the primary tumour. They also describe their own therapeutic approach, which involves the use of a CO2 laser for resecting the primary tumour. They present their patient population and conclude by observing that the progress achieved over the past decade is due both to earlier diagnosis and to improvements in the various therapeutic means available.