Retrospective cohort study of local recurrence and survival in patients with melanoma in situ

The overdiagnosis of melanoma in situ (MIS) is well documented. There is limited evidence on the rate of local recurrence of the non-lentigo maligna (non-LM)/non-acral lentiginous melanoma (non-ALM) subtypes. In a Greek cohort study of 401 patients with 403 non-LM/non-ALM MIS and follow-up extending up to 26 years (median, 5.2 years), no local recurrences, metastasis, or melanoma-specific death were observed among patients with histologically clear margins treated with initial excisional biopsy alone or via wide excision. The authors conclude that for non-LM/non-ALM MIS, clear histopathological margins, either at excisional biopsy or after wide excision may be sufficient, although further studies comparing this approach with current standard management are needed.