Recruiting

One surgery or two for thin skin cancer treatment

Plain-English translation of NCT06363591 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated March 2025 · Translation generated July 2026 · How we translate trials

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This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This trial is comparing two different surgical approaches for treating thin melanoma (early-stage skin cancer). One group will receive the standard treatment: a second surgery to remove extra tissue around the original tumor site. The other group will skip the second surgery, since their initial tumor removal may have already been complete. Researchers want to find out if the second surgery is truly necessary for patients with thin melanomas, or if one careful surgery is enough.

Thin melanomas have an excellent outlook, and doctors are wondering if the traditional two-surgery approach causes unnecessary treatment and costs. This trial aims to find a simpler, more personalized approach that removes the cancer completely while avoiding extra procedures when they may not be needed.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been recently diagnosed with a thin melanoma (≤1.0 mm thick) confirmed by an initial surgery
your melanoma was completely removed during the initial surgery with at least 1.5 mm of clear tissue around it
you are 18 years or older and able to follow the study plan and attend follow-up visits
you have a life expectancy of at least 5 years from your diagnosis
the location of your melanoma is suitable for a standard second surgery if assigned to that group

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a history of melanoma or other skin cancer (except common non-melanoma types) before this diagnosis
your melanoma has spread to other parts of your body
you have had another cancer treated in the past 5 years
your initial melanoma was biopsied before the diagnostic surgery or removed with a very wide margin initially
your melanoma is a special subtype (desmoplastic or lentiginous) or located on your fingers in a way that would require amputation

What participation looks like

If you join this trial, you will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive the standard two-surgery approach (wide local excision), while the other group will have no second surgery. Either way, you will need to attend regular follow-up appointments over several years so doctors can monitor your skin health and watch for any signs that the cancer has returned. Your care will be closely supervised to ensure your safety.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 15, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

Sweden

Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg