Malignant melanoma--diagnosis, treatment and follow-up in Norway.

Background: The incidence of malignant melanoma in Norway is among the highest in the world and rising, with approximately 1 500 persons receiving the diagnosis annually. Correct surgical primary treatment cures 80-90%, while 10-20% experience relapses. The treatment of a metastatic malignant melanoma has changed considerably in the last 1-2 years as a result of clinical experience with new drugs. The current publication provides an updated overview of the treatment of malignant melanoma in Norway.

Method: The article is based on a search in PubMed and on the authors' own research and clinical experience.

Results: After several decades with almost no change in the treatment of malignant melanoma, we have seen a positive development over the past couple of years. New treatment methods for malignant melanoma with distant spreading metastases have yielded favourable results in selected patients and are currently established in cancer departments in Norway.

Interpretation: Rapid and correct primary treatment is curing most patients with malignant melanoma. New drugs offer hope for selected patient groups with metastatic disease. Several new types of targeted treatment are being tested in clinical studies in Norway and elsewhere in the world.