The surgical management of metastatic melanoma

Currently, there is no gold standard for treatment of stage IV melanoma. Surgical therapy for stage IV disease remains controversial. Conventional teaching maintains that surgical management is not indicated in patients with distant metastases, except for palliation. The rationale for surgical resection of metastatic melanoma is multifactorial. Stringent patient selection is essential. The advent of newer and better systemic therapies makes the role of surgical resection more relevant today than ever before.