Staging in thick cutaneous malignant melanoma: A sequenced approach.

Background: Patients with thick cutaneous pT4 malignant melanoma are at high risk for metastatic disease, and optimal staging is poorly defined. This study examines the frequency and modality of pre-operative staging to provoke thought on optimal staging.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed of patients with clinical T4N0 melanoma diagnosed between 2015-2017.

Population-based assessment of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the management of cutaneous melanoma.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for melanoma plays a central role in determining prognosis and guiding treatment and surveillance strategies. Despite widely published guidelines for SLNB, variation exists in its use. We aimed to determine the frequency of and predictive factors for SLNB in patients with clinically node-negative melanoma in British Columbia.

Laparoscopic versus open resection in patients with locally advanced colon cancer.

Background: Surgical resection of locally advanced colon cancer (LACC) is challenging due to tumor size and the frequent need for multivisceral resection. The role of laparoscopic resection in LACC is controversial. This study aims to compare outcomes for laparoscopic versus open surgery in LACC.