dermatologic disorders
Melanoma
Key Points
Melanoma accounts for < 2% of total skin cancers diagnosed in the United States but causes most skin cancer deaths. Melanoma can develop in the skin, mucosa, conjunctiva, choroid layer of the eye, leptomeninges, and nail beds. Although melanoma can develop from a typical or atypical mole, most do not. Physicians (and patients) should monitor moles for changes in size, shape, borders, color, or surface characteristics and for bleeding, ulceration, itching, and tenderness. Biopsy even slightly suspect lesions. Excise melanomas whenever feasible, particularly when melanomas have not metastasized. Consider immunotherapy (eg,pembrolizumab,nivolumab), molecular targeted therapies (eg, MEK inhibitors, BRAF inhibitors), and radiation therapy if melanoma is unresectable or metastatic. 