Mucosal melanoma is a rare and aggressive form of melanoma that arises from the mucous membrane.

In this podcast, we focus on mucosal melanoma of the head and neck. Led by A/Prof Sydney Ch’ng, our multidisciplinary experts discuss how it differs from cutaneous melanoma, staging of mucosal melanoma, management of the disease and future treatments.

The discussion concludes with a case study to summarise key learnings.

This podcast is suitable for Plastic Surgeons, Surgical Oncologists, Dermatologists, Medical Oncologists, Pathologists, GPs, Nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Register now to attend the 2024 Australasian Melanoma Conference, hosted by Melanoma Institute Australia.

SPEAKERS

• A/Prof Sydney Ch’ng - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon and Head & Neck Surgeon, Melanoma Institute Australia | Associate Professor of Surgery, The University of Sydney
• Prof Georgina Long AO - Co-Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia | Chair, Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney
• A/Prof Raewyn Campbell - Rhinologist and Anterior Skull Base Surgeon |Associate Professor, Macquarie University
• Dr Robert Rawson - Pathologist, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
• Prof Angela Hong - Radiation Oncologist, Melanoma Institute Australia | Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (March 2024) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia.

MIA’s Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from MSD, BMS and HEINE.

Diagnostic uncertainty in the context of cutaneous melanoma can have significant impact on patient care.

In this podcast, our multidisciplinary experts, led by Dr Adrian Quek, discuss the challenges faced in classifying melanocytic lesions that fall into a diagnostic grey area, and explore the terminology, evolving classifications and the impact of diagnostic uncertainty on patient outcomes.

From molecular changes to clinical perspectives, this engaging discussion provides a comprehensive exploration of the complexities surrounding borderline lesions, and emphasises the need for experienced multidisciplinary professionals in ensuring accurate diagnoses and ideal management.

This podcast is suitable for Pathologists, Dermatologists, Surgeons, Oncologists, GPs and other healthcare professionals.

Register now to attend the ⁠2024 Australasian Melanoma Conference⁠, hosted by Melanoma Institute Australia. RESOURCES

• Video: How to diagnose borderline cutaneous melanocytic lesions

• Paper: Yeh, I. New and evolving concepts of melanocytic nevi and melanocytomas. Modern Pathology. 2020;33:1-14.

• Nevus/Melanocytoma/Melanoma: An Emerging Paradigm for Classification of Melanocytic Neoplasms?. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2011;135(3): 300–306.

SPEAKERS

• Dr Adrian Quek - Skin Cancer GP, Melanoma Institute Australia and Chatswood Skin Cancer Clinic
• A/Prof Robyn Saw - General Surgeon, Melanoma Institute Australia | Head of Department in Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital | Associate Professor in Surgery, The University of Sydney
• Prof H. Peter Soyer - Chair in Dermatology and Director of the Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland
• Dr Andrew Colebatch - Staff Specialist in Anatomical Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (November 2023) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia.

MIA’s Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb and HEINE.

For more clinical education from MIA, sign up to the Melanoma Education Portal.

With the advent of effective medical therapies for melanoma, a pertinent question has arisen: When should we scan our patients?

In this podcast, our multidisciplinary experts, led by A/Prof Sydney Ch’ng, discuss the balance of whether we should be more aggressive in our pursuit of identifying potential metastases or exercise caution to avoid unnecessary scans, radiation exposure and patient anxiety. The discussion concludes with a case study to summarise key learnings.

This podcast is suitable for Medical Oncologists, Oncologists, Surgeons, GPs, Oncology Nurses and other healthcare professionals.

RESOURCES

Melanoma Risk Prediction Tools

SPEAKERS

• A/Prof Sydney Ch’ng -  Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon and Head & Neck Surgeon, Melanoma Institute Australia, Associate Professor of Surgery, The University of Sydney 

• A/Prof Alexander Menzies -  Medical Oncologist, Melanoma Institute Australia, Royal North Shore and Mater Hospitals | Associate Professor of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Sydney

• A/Prof Alexander van Akkooi - Associate Professor in Melanoma Surgical Oncology, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The University of Sydney

• Dr Edward Hsiao - Radiologist and Nuclear Medicine Specialist, Mater Imaging
• Dr Kevin London - Nuclear Medicine Specialist, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead | Clinical Senior Lecturer, The University of Sydney

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (September 2023) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia.

For more practice-changing education, visit our Melanoma Education Portal.

MIA’s Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb and HEINE. 

Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) plays a key role in assessing the prognosis of melanomas.

In this fireside chat from our new SNB Training Program (Sentinel Node Biopsy: From guidelines to practice), MIA’s Prof Georgina Long AO, Prof John Thompson AO and A/Prof Sydney Ch’ng discuss:

• the history of SNB in the management of melanoma
• its current role in the stratification of patients into those who may benefit from adjuvant therapies verses those for whom active surveillance is more appropriate
• other potential benefits of SNB, including the likelihood of SNB itself reducing the risk of nodal recurrence.

This podcast is suitable for Surgeons, Medical Oncologists, General Practitioners and other healthcare professionals.

SPEAKERS

• A/Prof Sydney Ch’ng - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon and Head & Neck Surgeon, Melanoma Institute Australia | Associate Professor of Surgery, The University of Sydney
• Prof Georgina Long AO - Co-Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia | Chair, Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney
• Prof John Thompson AO - Emeritus Professor of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, The University of Sydney | Senior Surgeon, Melanoma Institute Australia

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (July 2022) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia.

Our latest podcast explores the innovative approach of neoadjuvant  immunotherapy - administering checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy before the surgical removal of  melanoma. This promising approach is creating a buzz among multidisciplinary clinicians and researchers globally as the potential  benefits for melanoma patients are being realised.

Although neoadjuvant therapy is well established in oncology, using immunotherapy in melanoma has revolutionised patient outcomes through significant improvements in overall survival rates.

In this engaging podcast, MIA’s Prof Georgina Long AO leads a discussion with multidisciplinary world leaders in the neoadjuvant space to discuss:

• the benefits of checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy
• the role of the pathologist in the assessment of neoadjuvant tissue
• the impact of surgical decision-making as neoadjuvant becomes mainstay treatment
• options for treatment-refractory patients
• the role of checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy in non-melanoma skin cancer.

The discussion concludes with case studies to summarise key learnings.

This podcast is suitable for Medical Oncologists, Oncologists,  Surgeons, Pathologists, Dermatologists, GPs, Oncology Nurses and other  healthcare professionals.

SPEAKERS:

• Prof Georgina Long AO - Co-Medical Director,  Melanoma Institute Australia | Chair, Melanoma Medical Oncology and  Translational Research, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal North  Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney
• Prof Richard Scolyer AO - Co-Medical Director,  Melanoma Institute Australia | Pathologist, Melanoma Institute  Australia, Senior Staff Specialist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital |  Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney
• A/Prof Alexander Menzies - Medical Oncologist,  Melanoma Institute Australia, Royal North Shore and Mater Hospitals |  Associate Professor of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of  Sydney
• A/Prof Alexander van Akkooi - Associate Professor  in Melanoma Surgical Oncology, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal  Prince Alfred Hospital, The University of Sydney

KEY CLINICAL TRIALS

1. SWOG
2. PRADO
3. OpACIN-neo
4. NADINA

FURTHER EDUCATION

• The critical role of standardised pathological assessment in neoadjuvant therapy for melanoma: A guide for Pathologists 

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording  (February 2023) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment  landscape and approvals in Australia.

MIA’s Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb and HEINE.

Lentigo maligna – a subtype of in situ melanoma – presents diagnostic and treatment challenges for clinicians.

In this podcast, Dr Michael Rtshiladze leads a multidisciplinary  discussion to unravel our understanding of the pathology, diagnosis and  management of lentigo maligna, including:

• clinical and histological presentation
• tools to diagnose and monitor lesions
• the impact of different types of biopsies
• the importance of mapping the extent of lesions
• the challenge of surgical management in cosmetically sensitive areas
• the role of radiation therapy and topical treatments
• when to refer your patient.

The discussion concludes with a case study to summarise key learnings.

This podcast is suitable for Plastic Surgeons, General Surgeons,  Dermatologists, Oncologists, Pathologists, GPs, Nurses and other  healthcare professionals.

SPEAKERS

• Dr Michael Rtshiladze - Plastic and Reconstructive  Surgeon, Melanoma Institute Australia, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The  Prince of Wales Hospital, St George Hospital and Sydney Children’s  Hospital
• Dr Robert Rawson - Pathologist, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
• Prof Pascale Guitera - Dermatologist, Melanoma  Institute Australia | Director, Sydney Melanoma Diagnostic Centre at  Royal Prince Alfred Hospital | Professorial Research Fellow, The  University of Sydney
• Prof Angela Hong - Radiation Oncologist, Melanoma Institute Australia | Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney

RESOURCE AND REFERENCE

• Lentigo Maligna Patient Information Brochure
• Crouch G, Sinha S, Lo S, Saw RPM, Lee KK, Stretch J, Shannon K, Guitera P, Scolyer RA, Thompson JF & Ch'ng S. Clinical outcomes following surgical treatment of lentigo maligna of the head and neck. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2021 May;47(5):1145-1151.

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording  (December 2022) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment  landscape and approvals in Australia.

MIA’s Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb and HEINE.

Despite recent advances in management of primary uveal melanoma, more than half of patients develop metastatic disease – often with poor outcomes. New therapeutic approaches to metastatic disease are vital.

In this podcast, A/Prof Matteo Carlino interviews fellow Medical  Oncologist Prof Georgina Long AO and Ophthalmologist A/Prof Max Conway on our latest understanding of the diagnosis and management of early and advanced uveal melanoma, including:

• presentation and diagnostic process
• current treatment options and rationale for local therapy in early melanoma
• determining which patients are suitable for screening for metastatic disease
• developing a surveillance plan based on risk of recurrence
• the different activity of systemic therapy in uveal versus cutaneous melanoma
• importance of the multidisciplinary team
• activity of tebentafusp in advanced uveal melanoma
• the current clinical trial landscape.

This podcast is suitable for Oncologists, Ophthalmologists, GPs, Oncology Nurses and other healthcare professionals.

SPEAKERS

• A/Prof Matteo Carlino - Medical Oncologist, Melanoma  Institute Australia, Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals Clinical  Associate Professor, The University of Sydney
• Prof Georgina Long AO - Co-Medical Director,  Melanoma Institute Australia | Chair, Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney
• A/Prof Max Conway - Ophthalmologist, Save Sight Institute, Sydney Eye Hospital and The University of Sydney

RESOURCES

• Early Ocular Melanoma Patient Information Brochure
• Advanced Ocular Melanoma Patient Information Brochure
• Melanoma Education Portal

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording  (November 2022) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia.

MIA’s Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from MSD, BMS, Novartis and HEINE.

Treating clinicians rely on pathology to help diagnose and stage their patient which fundamentally determines the treatment management  plan. Therefore, it is incredibly important to get it right in the first place.

In this engaging podcast aimed at GPs, our multidisciplinary experts discuss:

• Why can it be challenging to get the pathology right?
• What clinical information is important to include on the pathology request form?
• How is the pathology report structured?
• How is the specimen processed?
• What biopsy is key to maximising the diagnostic and prognostic interpretation of the pathology?
• Are partial biopsies ever appropriate?
• What implications does the type of biopsy have for subsequent surgery?
• When does a GP need to refer their patient?

The discussion is concluded with two case studies to summarise key learnings.

This podcast is suitable for GPs, Dermatologists, Surgeons, Oncologists, Pathologists and other healthcare professionals.

SPEAKERS

• Dr Adrian Quek - Skin Cancer GP, Melanoma Institute Australia and The Chatswood Skin Cancer Clinic
• Dr Alison Potter - Pathologist, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
• Dr Nigel Maher - McMurtrie Cancer Pathology Fellow, Melanoma Institute Australia
• A/Prof Alexander van Akkooi - Associate Professor  in Melanoma Surgical Oncology, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The University of Sydney
• Dr Niamh-Anna O’Sullivan - Specialist Dermatologist, Melanoma Institute Australia

HOST

• Danielle Fischer - Education Program Manager, Melanoma Institute Australia

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (June 2022) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape  and approvals in Australia.

For more practice-changing education, visit our Melanoma Education Portal.

MIA's Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from: MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis and HEINE.

The role of pathology in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma is pivotal to optimal patient care. With so many disciplines relying on the pathologist for accurate diagnoses and critical pathological information, we decided to reach out to our clinical melanoma community to ask them for their critical pathology questions. 

In this podcast, Prof John Thompson AO and Prof Fergal Moloney pick at the brain of the world's leading melanoma Pathologist, Prof Richard Scolyer AO, as they discuss: 

• The clinical information needed to aid diagnosis 
• The role of artificial intelligence and computing in pathology 
• Overdiagnosis of melanoma 
• The problem of partial biopsies 
• Diagnosing borderline lesions 
• What is a melanocytoma and how should it be managed 
• What is an irritated naevus 
• Dysplastic naevi and appropriate management 

This podcast is suitable for GPs, Dermatologists, Surgeons, Oncologists, Pathologists and other healthcare professionals. 

SPEAKERS 

Prof Richard Scolyer AO - Co-Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia | Pathologist, Melanoma Institute Australia, Senior Staff Specialist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital | Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney 

Prof John Thompson AO - Emeritus Professor of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, The University of Sydney | Member, Melanoma Institute Australia 

Prof Fergal Moloney - Consultant Dermatologist, Melanoma Institute Australia and Mater Misericordiae University Hospital | Clinical Professor, University College, Dublin 

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (June 2022) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia. 

For more practice-changing education, visit our Melanoma Education Portal. 

MIA's Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from: MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis and HEINE.

Cancer drugs have rapidly evolved in the last decade. Alongside the significant benefits are new toxicity profiles that clinicians need to be aware of and manage. In this podcast, A/Prof Carlino interviews fellow Medical Oncologist Prof Georgina Long AO on the adverse events/toxicities associated with targeted therapies (combination BRAF/MEK inhibitors) and immunotherapies (anti-PD-1, anti-LAG-3 and anti-CTLA-4), particularly in melanoma, and how they should be managed.

This podcast is suitable for Oncologists, Emergency Medicine Physicians, GPs, Oncology Nurses and other healthcare professionals.

SPEAKERS

• Prof Georgina Long AO - Co-Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia | Chair, Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney
• A/Prof Matteo Carlino - Medical Oncologist, Melanoma Institute Australia, Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals Clinical Associate Professor, The University of Sydney

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (May 2022) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia.

MIA’s Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from: MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis and HEINE.

The field of melanoma has experienced a paradigm shift in recent years, with advancements in both diagnosis and management driving improved patient outcomes. Through the power of research, day-to-day practice continues to be transformed. 

In this lively podcast, two of Australia's leading melanoma experts Prof Richard Scolyer AO and Prof Georgina Long AO discuss: 

• how melanoma management has transformed in the last decade 
• the challenge of diagnosing melanoma for clinicians and pathologists, and practical ways to help make accurate assessments 
• the importance of staging 
• why sentinel node biopsies are important 
• how multidisciplinary care enhances patient outcomes 
• emerging evidence on neoadjuvant treatment and how this will change the way melanoma is managed 
• the challenge of supportive care and where to find help. 

In this practical discussion, resources and further education for deeper dives into specific topics are also mentioned, with links below. 

This podcast is suitable for oncologists, surgeons, dermatologists, skin cancer GPs, GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals. 

SPEAKERS 

• Prof Georgina Long AO - Co-Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia | Chair, Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney 
• Prof Richard Scolyer AO - Co-Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia | Pathologist, Melanoma Institute Australia, Senior Staff Specialist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital | Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney 

LINKS TO RESOURCES 

• Melanoma Risk Prediction Tools 
• Prof John Thompson's presentation: Update on melanoma staging 
• Order or download a pocket-sized Melanoma Staging Card 
• Prof Richard Scolyer's presentation: Melanoma near misses: Clues to diagnosis 
• Dermoscopy module: Techniques in melanoma assessment 
• Interactive game: DermChallenge: Management. 
• Debate: To shave or not to shave when biopsying melanoma 
• Podcast: Multidisciplinary management of primary melanoma 
• Presentation by Dr Rob Rawson and Dr Michael Rtshiladze: The melanoma pathology report and its impact on clinical management 
• Wiki melanoma guidelines: Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of melanoma 
• Interactive module: The current role of sentinel node biopsy in the management of melanoma 
• Debate: The role of sentinel node biopsy is overstated in melanoma 
• SNB Melanoma Risk Calculator 

Visit the Melanoma Education Portal for the full list of resources.