Preface

Abstract

It has been almost 10 years since an issue of Clinics in Plastic Surgery was dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of malignant melanoma. Since that time, significant changes in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma have occurred. In 2000, at the time of the last issue, elective lymph node dissection was still being performed and sentinel lymph node biopsy was in its infancy. Sentinel lymph node biopsy has now become the standard of care in melanoma. The staging system was totally revamped in 2002, taking into account the significance of ulceration and the information gained during sentinel node biopsy. Although the treatment of melanoma still remains surgical, new research into immunotherapy gives hope for further medical therapies.With more than 60,000 patients being diagnosed each year with malignant melanoma, plastic surgeons will continue to see patients with this disease. Treatment of this disease involves a coordinated effort of many specialists. These include plastic surgeons, dermatologists, dermatopathologists, nuclear medicine physicians, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, and primary care specialists. Plastic surgeons have a long history of involvement in the care of patients with melanoma. The plastic surgeon must continue to be pivotal in the care of patients with melanoma, coordinating care among the specialists and being integral in all aspects of surgery and follow-up.I hope this issue of Clinics in Plastic Surgery serves both as a compendium of information for the surgical management of patients with melanoma and also as a reference source for physicians and patients researching treatment options, current therapies, and further innovations. It has been almost 10 years since an issue of Clinics in Plastic Surgery was dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of malignant melanoma. Since that time, significant changes in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma have occurred. In 2000, at the time of the last issue, elective lymph node dissection was still being performed and sentinel lymph node biopsy was in its infancy. Sentinel lymph node biopsy has now become the standard of care in melanoma. The staging system was totally revamped in 2002, taking into account the significance of ulceration and the information gained during sentinel node biopsy. Although the treatment of melanoma still remains surgical, new research into immunotherapy gives hope for further medical therapies. With more than 60,000 patients being diagnosed each year with malignant melanoma, plastic surgeons will continue to see patients with this disease. Treatment of this disease involves a coordinated effort of many specialists. These include plastic surgeons, dermatologists, dermatopathologists, nuclear medicine physicians, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, and primary care specialists. Plastic surgeons have a long history of involvement in the care of patients with melanoma. The plastic surgeon must continue to be pivotal in the care of patients with melanoma, coordinating care among the specialists and being integral in all aspects of surgery and follow-up. I hope this issue of Clinics in Plastic Surgery serves both as a compendium of information for the surgical management of patients with melanoma and also as a reference source for physicians and patients researching treatment options, current therapies, and further innovations.