Management of Regional Nodal Melanoma

Regional nodal melanoma management has changed substantially over the past 2  decades alongside advances in systemic therapy. Significant data from retrospective studies and from 2 randomized controlled trials show no survival benefit to completion lymph node dissection compared with observation in sentinel lymph node–positive melanoma patients. Observation is becoming th e standard recommendation in these patients, whereas patients with clinically detected lymph nodes are still recommended to undergo lymph node dissection. Promising early results from a neoadjuvant approach inform the ongoing evolution of melanoma management. Recruiting patients to clinical trials i s paramount to attaining evidence-based practice changes in melanoma.
Source: Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America - Category: Surgery Authors: Source Type: research