Human Malignant Melanoma

Abstract

A diagnosis of malignant melanoma is made or confirmed by the nuances and detailed characteristics of the histologic examination, not always a simple task. This diagnosis often produces a flood of legitimate questions by the patient regarding additional aspects of diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. This book is a compendium of articles by many authors, many of them reflecting their experience in the Philadelphia medical community, and provides an excellent source of current information for this traditionally feared but not always fatal malignancy. The text is divided into three parts: biologic development and histology, therapy, and ocular malignant melanoma. The first section is the largest (282 pages) and generally the strongest, reflecting the long-standing interest and contributions of Dr Clark and his associates. Four major forms of cutaneous malignant melanoma are presented clinically and histologically: superficial spreading melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma, nodular melanoma, and acrolentiginous melanoma. The biology of these lesions