Diagnosis and management of cutaneous melanoma

In the field of melanoma, clinical trials evaluating the impact of sentinel node biopsy, completion lymph node dissection and adjuvant medical therapies on patient outcomes have provided evidence that has changed practice significantly over the past five years.

The aim of this article is to discuss key evidence that has informed new Cancer Council Australia melanoma management guidelines.

General practitioners play a critical role in melanoma diagnosis and follow-up. Complete excisional biopsy to achieve accurate tumour microstaging is essential for obtaining reliable prognostic information, planning further management and accessing adjuvant medical therapies. The management of patients with Stage III disease has changed dramatically over the past few years. Less surgery is now recommended, and patients may be offered potentially life-prolonging systemic therapies. Multidisciplinary discussion of management is recommended. Rapid advances in therapeutic options for patients with advanced melanoma have placed new emphasis on the importance of accurate staging and early management. Accordingly, the Australian national melanoma management guidelines have recently been updated. These evidence-based guidelines are now readily available on Cancer Council Australia's electronic Wiki platform, which facilitates regular further updating.