Surviving cutaneous melanoma: a clinical review of follow-up practices, surveillance, and management of recurrence

Surg Clin North Am. 2014 Oct;94(5):989-1002, vii-viii. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2014.07.003. Epub 2014 Aug 5.

Abstract

The number of melanoma survivors in the United States continues to steadily increase 2.6% per year, while death rates have remained stable over time. Although controversy exists regarding optimal surveillance strategies, recommendations for clinical monitoring are based on tumor stage, tumor phenotype, likelihood of recurrence, prognosis, risk factors, psychosocial impact of disease, and patient well-being. Management guidelines for recurrent disease depend on the type of recurrence: local, satellite/in-transit, regional, or distant metastasis. This article is a current review of the literature concerning melanoma survivorship.

Keywords: Management of recurrence; Melanoma survivorship; Surveillance and follow-up; Survival prognosis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Anxiety / prevention & control
  • Cicatrix / mortality
  • Cicatrix / surgery
  • Early Detection of Cancer
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Long-Term Care
  • Male
  • Melanoma / diagnosis
  • Melanoma / mortality*
  • Melanoma / surgery
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / surgery
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Reduction Behavior
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery
  • Survival Analysis