Historical review of melanoma treatment and outcomes.

Abstract

The surgical and medical management of melanoma has changed dramatically since the first description of melanoma as a disease entity more than 200 years ago. Refinement of surgical techniques, including evaluation of optimal surgical margins, utility of elective lymph node dissection, and incorporation of sentinel lymph node mapping as both a prognostic tool and guide for selective lymphadenectomy have lessened surgical morbidity and improved outcomes for early-stage and locally advanced melanoma. Astute clinical observations of the integrated roles of the immune system and oncogenic mutations have more recently led to improvements in survival and quality of life for advanced melanoma. Herein, we provide an overview of the most significant surgical and medical milestones in the treatment of melanoma over the past 2 centuries.

• Authors: Carrie Lee, Frances Collichio, David Ollila, Stergios Moschos
• Journal: Clinics in dermatology (Clin Dermatol) 2013 Mar-Apr Vol. 31 Issue 2 Pg. 141-7 ISSN: 1879-1131 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23438377 (Publication Type: Historical Article, Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• DNA, Neoplasm

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (history, therapeutic use)
• DNA, Neoplasm (genetics)
• Famous Persons
• History, 18th Century
• History, 19th Century
• History, 20th Century
• History, 21st Century
• Humans
• Medical Oncology (history)
• Melanoma (genetics, history, therapy)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
• Skin Neoplasms (genetics, history, therapy)