ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Staging and Follow-Up of Melanoma

Abstract

This document provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence supporting different imaging modalities and techniques used for the staging and surveillance of patients with cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and ocular melanoma. Guidelines are provided based on nodal status, presence of metastases at baseline, suspected metastases, and local stage.

The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.