Excision of primary melanoma should allow primary closure of the wound

There is no doubt about the fact that surgery is mandatory for primary melanoma. The problem in the recent past has been how wide and deep the excision of primary melanoma has to be. Results published from the World Health Organization (WHO) Melanoma Program have clearly demonstrated that a procedure involving up to 2-mm thickness and 1-cm margins is safe. Further trials dealing with melanoma thicker than 2 mm are being carried out, and preliminary results confirm that even in this case narrow excision is the correct procedure. At present we may assume that for stage I melanoma the excision of the primary tumor should in the majority of cases allow primary closure of the wound.