Management of Cutaneous Melanoma

Cutaneous melanoma remains a management challenge. This year an estimated 55,000 Americans will receive a diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma, and 7900 will die from the disease. The authors of this review discuss the pathogenesis and management of cutaneous melanoma and provide perspective on treatment options. The authors of this review discuss the pathogenesis and management of cutaneous melanoma and provide perspective on treatment options. Cutaneous melanoma remains a management challenge. The National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database documents increases of 619 percent in annual diagnoses of cutaneous melanoma and of 165 percent in annual mortality from 1950 to 2000. 1 In 2004, an estimated 55,000 Americans will receive a diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma, and 7900 will die from the disease. 2 Of all cancers in the United States, cutaneous melanoma ranks fifth in incidence among men and seventh among women 2 and is the second leading cause of lost productive years 3 , 4 ; it is also the most common cancer among women 20 . . .