The new TNM classification of malignant melanoma

The identification of increasingly powerful prognostic factors has led to sequential modifications of the cutaneous melanoma staging system. The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) recently proposed major revision of tumor node metastasis (TNM) categories and stage groupings for melanoma. The authors summarize the main characteristics of this new TNM classification of malignant melanoma. The importance of the novel technique - sentinel node biopsy - in the management of malignant melanoma is discussed.