In considering strategies for managing melanoma, it is important to recognize the balance needed for adequate results/outcomes as well as the risks/benefit ratio.
Once that paradigm is reviewed in respect to the need of the patient, there are a series of strategies recommended for the diagnosis, imaging, lymph node biopsy, and cases of metastatic melanoma.
Review the different strategies in the Table 1for current recommendations.
The eighth edition of the AJCC staging manual came into effect as of January 2018, although the manual has been available for the past several months. There are a number of subtle changes related to the staging of melanoma, such as the TNM classification and categorizations (Table 2.1, Table 2.2).
Implications for Practice
There are a number of strategic approaches to the diagnosis and follow up melanoma including detection, imaging, lymph node biopsy, and possible metastasis.
Updated guidelines for the correct staging of melanoma should be carefully reviewed and adhered to starting in January 2018.
