After Surgery: Follow-Up Guidelines of Melanoma Patients

There are several main reasons to begin a follow-up schedule after surgical treatment of the primary cutaneous lesion in patients affected by melanoma. The main goal is the early detection of disease recurrence, even if the impact of a prompt treatment on prognosis is still debated (Barth et al 1995, Atkins et al 2008, Garbe et al 2008). Several authors believe that early detection of asymptomatic metastases does not affect overall survival (Barth et al 1995, Atkins et al 2008). Others (Garbe et al 2008) showed a clear survival benefit for an early with respect to late metastases detection, with a 3-year survival rate of 76%, compared to the 38% of patients with late diagnosis. The early relapse recognition might lead to a more complete and less invasive surgical treatment, with potential benefits for the patient.