Melanoma: value of early detection and treatment

Recent studies confirm that the prognosis in patients with melanoma depends on the level of invasion by the tumor at diagnosis. Superficial spreading melanomas usually are detected during the initial radial growth phase, when simple excision usually effects a cure. Nodular melanomas extend vertically from inception and often are not detected until they have penetrated to relatively deep levels. Because the possibility of recurrence is higher with deeper tumors, lymph node dissection may also be necessary. Fortunately, superficial spreading melanomas are considerably more common than the nodular type. Therefore, increased efforts at earlier detection and diagnosis of melanoma will be rewarded by increased cure rates.