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CME ENThusiast

Head and Neck Surgery

Cutaneous Melanoma: 2026 Management in the Era of Immunotherapy

Tuesday, October 20, 2026
8:00 AM - 8:50 AM PT
Location: Petree Hall D

    Lead Presenter(s)

  • Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, FACS

    David Myers MD Professor & Chair, Otolaryngology-HNS
    Temple University/Fox Chase Cancer Center
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

    • Co-Presenter(s)

  • Carol R. Bradford, MD

    Professor of Otolaryngology-HNS
    Ohio State Medical Center
    Columbus, Ohio, United States

This Expert Lecture highlights 2026 changes in melanoma care with emphasis on immunotherapy. The work-up and treatment options for our melanoma patients will be reviewed in an evidence-based fashion. Sentinel node biopsy techniques and pearls will be shared along with the utility of a completion neck dissection in the context of the MSLT-II trial. New advances in targeted therapy to include PD-1 inhibitors and associated clinical trials will be reviewed so that physicians can hold meaningful patient conversations regarding both neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment options. We will highlight the important changes and associated challenges we face in managing our complex melanoma patients. Participants will leave the course with a clear understanding of 2026 standard of care for cutaneous head and neck melanoma

Learning Objectives:

  • List 2026 evidence-based melanoma guidelines for work-up & staging to include radiographic imaging and sentinel node biopsy.
  • Define the utility of a completion neck dissection in the setting of a positive sentinel node biopsy given MSLT-II trial results and advances in immunotherapy.
  • Formulate a plan to educate patients on melanoma adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy options to include novel targeted agents such as PD-1 inhibitors.