[Malignant melanoma. Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up]

The incidence and mortality of cutaneous malignant melanoma are increasing at a rate of between 3 and 7% in European countries. Although the prognosis for individual cases is improving, the rising mortality rate is attributed to a rapidly growing incidence that is not offset by improved diagnosis and treatment. The Norwegian Melanoma Group intends to publish and distribute national guidelines for the management of patients with cutaneous melanoma. National guidelines will ensure that the treatment and follow-up of melanoma patients are based on scientific data, contributing to a uniform practice, and thereby improving the quality of melanoma management. This article focuses on diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of stage I and II melanoma, i.e. melanoma without metastasis.