SURGICAL THERAPY OF PRIMARY CUTANEOUS MELANOMA

This review focuses on the surgical treatment of primary cutaneous mel anoma. Interpretation of biopsy results and a rational approach to pre operative screening methods for metastases are examined. The marked ch anges in operative approach to melanoma over the past century are revi ewed, with emphasis on the impact of prospective, randomized trials up on the width of surgical margins for melanoma, General principles of c urrent surgical technique are discussed, with attention given to modif ications of technique dictated by unique anatomic tumor sites. (C) 199 6 Wiley-Liss, Inc.