| The data show that the growth in dermatological surgeons excising primary melanomas has had no adverse affect on patient outcome. |
| The risk for developing metastatic lesions from primary cutaneous melanomas increases with tumor thickness. |
| Malignant melanomas are derived from epidermal melanocytes, and frequently arise from pre-existing pigmented lesions such as moles. |
| These patients are also at risk for second cancers, including bone, brain, leukemia and lymphoma, melanomas, and soft tissue sarcomas. |
| The authors also used flow cytometry to characterize melanomas of varying invasiveness. |
| In general, benign lesions are round and symmetric, while melanomas are asymmetric. |
