Role of dermatologists in treating melanoma Journal Article
| Authors: | Halpern, A. C.; Mandal, S. K. |
| Article Title: | Role of dermatologists in treating melanoma |
| Abstract: | Melanoma is a major focus of dermatology training and practice, with dermatologists playing a central role in managing melanoma through primary prevention, secondary prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of thinner tumors. Dermatologists have led public health efforts to raise melanoma awareness, promulgate the early warning signs of melanoma, and promote melanoma prevention through sun protection. Dermatologists have unique expertise in melanoma risk assessment and the clinical diagnosis of melanoma through visual inspection and the use of diagnostic aids, including dermoscopy and photographically assisted follow-up. Increasing incidence of melanoma, earlier melanoma detection, narrower excision margins, and improved surgical training in dermatology have recently combined to enhance the role of dermatologists in melanoma care. For patients with thin primary melanomas, dermatologists are increasingly assuming complete care, including wide local excision and long-term surveillance for both disease recurrence and detection of new primary melanoma. Conversely, the advent of sentinel lymph node biopsy and adjuvant therapy has made melanoma management more complex and has intensified the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the disease. In this context, dermatologists contribute significantly to the formation, administration, and implementation of multidisciplinary melanoma programs. © Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. |
| Keywords: | cancer surgery; clinical trial; review; cancer recurrence; cancer risk; follow-up studies; cancer diagnosis; cancer incidence; sentinel lymph node biopsy; cancer prevention; melanoma; skin neoplasms; cancer screening; mass screening; cancer therapy; epiluminescence microscopy; risk assessment; adjuvant chemotherapy; medical specialist; physician's role; dermatology; health care delivery; dermatologist; manpower; hospitals, group practice |
| Journal Title: | Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network |
| Volume: | 4 |
| Issue: | 7 |
| ISSN: | 1540-1405 |
| Publisher: | Harborside Press |
| Date Published: | 2006-08-01 |
| Start Page: | 695 |
| End Page: | 702 |
| Language: | English |
| PUBMED: | 16884671 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 2" - "Export Date: 4 June 2012" - "Source: Scopus" |
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