Melanoma and Lentigo maligna

Melanoma Guide for medical practitioners

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Melanoma_Management_A_GP_s_Concise_Guide

The collective sources function as a detailed guide to skin cancer management, emphasizing that unprotected UV exposure is the primary lifestyle risk factor for both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). The texts delineate various forms of skin cancer—including Superficial Spreading Melanoma (SSM), Nodular Melanoma (NM), Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)—and provide diagnostic criteria, such as the ABCD(E) or EFG acronyms and the use of specialized tools like dermoscopy. Management is primarily surgical excision, where appropriate margins are dictated by the tumor’s vertical depth, known as the Breslow thickness, and the texts underscore the vital prognostic role of the Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) for invasive melanomas. The sources note that men over 40 face disproportionately high mortality rates and explain that follow-up frequency depends on the cancer stage. Finally, they cover alternatives to surgery, including radiation, topical treatments, and advanced systemic oncology therapies for metastatic or difficult-to-treat lesions, such as a large lentigo maligna on the face.