ABSTRACT
Malignant melanomas (MMs) are neoplasms of the epidermal melanocytes that are derived embryologically from neural crest cells. Melanomas tend to affect younger patients with more females (2:1 in the US) compared with basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. The lifetime risk of a Caucasian living in the UK is estimated to be approximately 1 in 80, but this increases five-fold if they emigrate to a sunnier climate such as Australia or South Africa.
