Evaluation of different cutaneous melanoma diagnostic methods and search for optimal surgical treatment technique

The aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential and value of non-invasive and invasive tests in diagnosing cutaneous melanoma and assessment of its dissemination, and to justify optimal technique for surgical management. Objectives 1. To determine correlation between non-invasive ultrasound investigation and results of morphologic examination in assessment of cutaneous melanoma thickness influencing surgical treatment strategy. 2. To evaluate the expedience of using two invasive diagnostic methods (tissue stain and RA injection at the site of the tumour) in detection of sentinel lymph node(s). 3. To compare the count of sentinel lymph nodes and the rate of micrometastases between two groups of patients with cutaneous melanoma: patients who underwent one-stage surgery – radical excision of the tumour and sentinel lymph node biopsy (group “V”), and patients who underwent two-stage surgery – primary diagnostic excision of the tumour (0.5 cm from borders of the lesion) followed by a radical re-excision of the postoperative scar and sentinel lymph node biopsy (group “D”)