Although this activity is no longer certified for credit, we believe that it contains important information and hope you'll review, print or email it to a colleague.

Accreditation extended through June 2008
Melanoma Care Options™ Issue 2: Regional Disease

A case-based discussion of strategies for managing regional melanoma.

Authors: Richard L. White, Jr, MD, FACS (Editor)
James G. Douglas, MD, MS
David H. Lawson, MD
Alan Valentine, MD

1. Interested in reading the publication and earning CME credits online? Click here to register, click here to download the publication and click here to take the CME test and evaluation on line.

2. Just want to download the publication? Click here to download the publication. You can always print out and fax the CME information to us later.

Continuing Medical Education Information

Instructions for participation:

• Read the case presentation and comments in the newsletter
• Fill out the CME test and evaluation online or complete the posttest questions and evaluation form at the end of the newsletter, and fax or mail them to our office

To receive a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for this activity:

1. Within 4 weeks of successful completion, a certificate will be mailed to the address provided
2. 70% of your posttest answers must be correct for you to receive a certificate of credit

Target Audience

This activity is directed toward dermatologists, dermatologic surgeons, surgical and medical oncologists, general surgeons, oncology nurses, primary care physicians, and other health care professionals who treat or screen for melanoma.

Statement of Need

Regional melanoma is disease that has metastasized from the primary site to regional lymph nodes or locations in between, but not beyond. This stage of disease is categorized as stage III by the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. The prognosis for regional melanoma varies widely depending on the characteristics of the metastatic nodes, such as the number of nodes involved and the tumor burden. The primary goal in treating patients with regional melanoma is to prevent or delay widespread metastatic disease, which is associated with low survival rates. Accordingly, the appropriate management of regional disease is critical to the well-being of the patient. This publication explores issues involved in the management of regional melanoma and highlights controversies and recent findings that may influence the best care of these patients.

Learning objectives:

After completing this activity, the participants will be able to

• Compare and contrast outcomes and treatment strategies for patients with node-positive melanoma
• Describe the role of adjuvant radiation therapy in melanoma
• List factors to consider in managing depression in patients receiving adjuvant interferon alfa-2b therapy
• Characterize the role of isolated limb perfusion in managing in-transit melanoma metastases

Accreditation and Credit Designation

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Each physician should claim only those credits commensurate with the extent of his or her participation in the activity.

1.8 contact hours of Continuing Nursing Education will be granted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA), an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center�s Commission on Accreditation.

Contributing Authors and Disclosure

We gratefully acknowledge an educational grant from Schering-Plough Corporation in support of this activity.

Richard L. White, Jr, MD, FACS
Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology
Carolinas Medical Center
Blumenthal Cancer Center
Charlotte, North Carolina
Speakers� Bureaus: Schering Oncology, Chiron Therapeutics

James G. Douglas, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology, Pediatrics, and Neurologic Surgery
University of Washington Medical Center
Seattle, Washington
Grants/Research Support: MedImmune Inc

David H. Lawson, MD
Professor of Hematology/Oncology
Winship Cancer Institute
Atlanta, Georgia
Grants/Research Support, Consultant, and Speakers� Bureaus: Chiron Therapeutics, Schering-Plough Corporation, Point Therapeutics, Berlex Laboratories

Alan Valentine, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas
No financial relationships to disclose

Date of Original Release: November 15, 2006
Expiration Date: November 15, 2007
Date of last review: November 15, 2006