Melanoma: epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.

Melanoma is a skin cancer that arises from the malignant transformation of melanocytes. Although it is typically considered a pigmented lesion, the clinical presentation of melanoma can vary greatly. With increased efforts in screening and detection of early-stage melanoma, researchers and clinicians hope to improve clinical outcomes for patients with melanoma. Novel immunotherapies directed at specific molecular targets in the pathogenesis of melanoma usher in a new era of treatment of advanced melanoma.