Association between surgical delay and outcomes among patients with invasive cutaneous melanoma

When does a melanoma metastasize? Implications for management

“…It is generally believed that early removal of a primary cutaneous melanoma will improve the patient’s outcome. There have been some studies that appear to support this concept [ 1 – 3 ] and it is consistent with the logical assumption that metastasis to lymph nodes and distant sites is less likely to occur if the primary tumor is removed expeditiously. However, available evidence suggests that melanoma metastasis has often occurred many months before a primary melanoma diagnosis is made.…”