[Standards, Options and Recommendations (SOR): clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of cutaneous melanoma. Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer].

Context: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of the French Cancer Centres (FNCLCC), the 20 French Cancer Centres and specialists from French Public Universities, General Hospitals and Private Clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and outcome for cancer patients. The methodology is based on literature systematic review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery.

Objectives: To develop clinical practice guidelines according to the definitions of Standards, Options and Recommendations for the management of patients with cutaneous melanoma.

Methods: Data have been identified by literature search using Medline - until December 1998 - and the personal reference lists of the expert group. Once the guidelines were defined, the document was submitted for review to national and international independent reviewers and to the medical committees of the 20 French Cancer Centres.

Results: The main recommendations for the management of cutaneous melanoma (CM) are: 1) The primary prevention of melanoma is based on a reduction in exposure to ultraviolet rays (solar or artificial). 2) The diagnosis of CM requires the surgical removal and histological examination of the lesion (standard). 3) The pathological report must include the diagnosis of primary malignant melanoma, the maximum thickness of the tumour in millimeters (Breslow), the clearance of surgical margins, the level of invasion (Clark), the presence and extension of regression and the presence of any ulceration (standard). 4) The standard treatment of a primary melanoma without lymph node involvement is based on surgery that must ensure adequate margins depending on the thickness of the tumour (standard, level of evidence B). 5) After surgery of a stage I melanoma, there is no indication for additional treatment outside a prospective therapeutic study (standard, level of evidence B, French Consensus Conference). 6) For a local recurrence without node involvement, in the absence of other metastases, surgical excision is the standard treatment. 7) In the case of metastatic regional lymph nodes, a complete regional lymphadenectomy is required. There is no indication for additional treatment outside a prospective therapeutic study (standard, level of evidence B). The inclusion of these patients in controlled studies of immunotherapy is recommended. 8) There is no standard therapeutic strategy for metastatic melanoma. Conventional palliative treatment is chemotherapy with dacarbazine (level of evidence B). 9) Follow-up is based on physical examination (standard). Patient information must encourage self-surveillance. Clinical surveillance and self-detection are indicated in all cases throughout life (standard).