Overview
Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is the most lethal form of skin cancer, responsible for 90% of skin cancer mortality 1. Early detection and accurate diagnosis are crucial for improving patient outcomes 1.Diagnosis
Clinical diagnosis of melanoma should always be confirmed by dermoscopy 1.
Histopathological examination is mandatory if melanoma is suspected 1.
Sequential digital dermoscopy and whole-body photography may aid in detecting early-stage melanoma in high-risk individuals 1.
Confocal reflectance microscopy can enhance clinical diagnosis in specific situations 1.
Melanoma staging follows the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer classification 1.
For melanomas up to 0.8 mm thick, no further diagnostic imaging is typically required 1.
From stage IB, lymph node sonography is recommended; no other imaging is advised 1.
From stage IIB/C, whole-body CT or PET-CT combined with brain MRI is recommended 1.
From stage IIB/C and higher, mutation testing, particularly for BRAF V600 mutations, is recommended 1.Management
(No management information provided in the abstracts)Special Populations
(No information on special populations provided in the abstracts)Key Recommendations
Melanoma diagnosis requires clinical assessment confirmed by dermoscopy and always followed by histopathological examination 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)
For thin melanomas (≤0.8 mm thickness), no further diagnostic imaging is required 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)
From stage IB, lymph node sonography is recommended, but no further imaging examinations are indicated 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)
From stage IIB/C, whole-body examinations with CT or PET-CT in combination with MRI of the brain are recommended 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)
From stage IIB/C and higher, mutation testing, especially for BRAF V600 mutations, is recommended 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)References
1 Garbe C, Amaral T, Peris K, Hauschild A, Arenberger P, Basset-Seguin N et al.. European consensus-based interdisciplinary guideline for melanoma. Part 1: Diagnostics - Update 2024. European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990) 2025. link