Early recognition of cutaneous malignant melanomas

On the basis of studies performed during the past two decades primary malignant melanoma can now be recognized in over 90% of the cases. The clinician, the nurse and even the patient can be taught to recognize the lesions early while histology is able to reveal the important prognostic factors, such as growth phase, depth of invasion and tumour thickness. This allows to identify the patients at high risk of developing occult metastases in regional lymph nodes. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment of melanoma are now the only acceptable approach and therefore all physicians must be on the alert for the condition.