Cutaneous Melanoma is essentially successful in its stated objective: to be a "comprehensive text about the biology and clinical management of melanoma." In this regard, it is quite unlike its predecessor published in 1985, which was primarily devoted to prognosis and treatment of melanoma. The first 162 pages of the present text are primarily devoted to the origins and pathogenesis of melanoma, with substantial reviews of pertinent epidemiology and biology. This is followed by a relatively short section on prognostic factors and staging. The remainder of the book is devoted to the presentation and management of primary and metastatic melanoma. There are black-and-white pictures and diagrams where appropriate, and a few good-quality color plates, but those who are primarily interested in an atlas should look elsewhere. A 17-page index is included.
The text begins with a chapter on the history of melanoma that I found quite informative, including the quotations