Melanoma

This chapter provides answers to practice-based questions with case studies covering the new principles of diagnosis, classification, staging, treatment, and outcomes in the rapidly advancing field of melanoma. Melanoma is currently the fifth most common cancer in the United States, resulting in more than 7,000 deaths each year. Melanoma affects all age groups, with a median age at diagnosis of 63; however, melanoma is the most common cancer in young adults aged 25–29. Risk factors for melanoma include sun exposure, dysplastic (atypical) nevi, increased number of benign nevi, family history of melanoma, and skin type with tendency to burn. The melanoma field has seen an unprecedented set of clinical advances over the past decade, which transformed management of the disease. However, despite numerous advances in the management of advanced melanoma, the cornerstone to ensuring a cure remains early detection.