Malignant Melanoma

Recent epidemiologic evidence has documented both an increase in incidence of and in mortality from malignant melanoma.1 The importance of this relatively uncommon malignant neoplasm (incidence less than 5/100,000 population) is attested to by the fact that despite accounting for only 3% of all cutaneous malignant neoplasms, malignant melanoma causes 67% of the deaths attributable to skin cancer.2 Research interest in melanoma has paralleled its increased frequency, and the current literature is replete with numerous articles that provide new information on the subject. Because of the large volume of new information scattered in numerous journals, the comprehensive review article provides a valuable tool for updating the reader and refreshing his memory on the subject. Recently, Kopf et al2 have written an extensive review of malignant melanoma. The article is current, comprehensive, and well written. The only drawback to the article is its length of more than 80