RT Journal
A1 Benjamin MF, Froom P
T1 WHat the surgeon should have said to my patient with thin malignant melanoma
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2012
FD June 25
VO 172
IS 12
SP 906
OP 906
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.1246
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2012.1246
AB 
A 46-year-old man incidentally discovered a pigmented lesion near the medial edge of his right scapula. There were no palpable lymph nodes. The biopsy revealed a malignant melanoma with favorable prognostic indicators: 0.5 mm deep, with focal infiltration of the papillary dermis; less than 1 mitosis per mm2; no ulceration; and areas with reactive lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltration (99% chance of 10-year survival1). A renowned surgical oncologist recommended wide excision with sentinel lymph node biopsy, saying,