An update on the management of cutaneous melanoma

Malignant melanoma is the world's fastest growing cancer, in terms of incidence, in the Caucasian population. There is a paucity of data regarding age-related population based studies in Chinese people. There are observations to suggest that malignant melanoma is a different disease in the Chinese with a for higher proportion of lesions being acral lentiginous in nature. Controversy abounds regarding the management of malignant melanoma and good evidence to support definitive treatments is lacking. Most recently, sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma has been called into question as being unnecessary and of doubtful predictability. Hong Kong needs to establish a comprehensive melanoma registry and a single melanoma center to optimise epidemiological, clinical and outcome data in order to maximise improvements in patient care.