Treatment of melanoma; success or failure?

The treatment of melanoma should be by radical surgical excision of the primary lesion and dissection of the regional nodes. Where possible this should be done in anatomic continuity; otherwise in physical discontinuity but at the same time. If maximum salvage is to be achieved the nodal dissection must be effected before there is clinical evidence of involvement by metastasis. Amputation of extremities should be reserved for cases in which there is evident metastasis between the original focus and the regional lymph node areas.