ATLAS: A positive, high-yield review of patient symptoms most significantly associated with melanoma recurrence

No standardized, evidence-based surveillance practices exist to guide and optimize recurrence detection in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

To determine the most high-yield positive review of systems for signaling recurrence in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

This retrospective cohort study assessed patients with a history of cutaneous melanoma and compared demographic and clinical characteristics, including a comprehensive review of systems, among those who experienced recurrence and those who did not.

A high-yield positive review of systems associated with cutaneous melanoma recurrence can be remembered using the mnemonic "ATLAS": Appetite change, Tiredness, Lymph node enlargement, Abdominal pain, and Shortness of breath LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design, limited sample size, and variability in follow-up time between recurrent and nonrecurrent cohorts.

Any treating physician using this model may have a greater opportunity to detect recurrent cutaneous melanoma and improve outcomes while limiting cost and morbidity.