This pilot clinical trial studies intravital microscopy for identifying tumor vessels in patients with stage IA-IV melanoma that is being removed by surgery. New imaging procedures, such as intravital microscopy, may determine the extent of melanoma.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the feasibility of performing intravital microscopy on accessible human melanoma tumors during their standard course of treatment (i.e., wide local excision). (Part I)

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the blood flow velocity of the tumor vessels and tissue penetration of fluorescein (fluorescein sodium) as a marker of tumor vessel permeability. (Part II)

OUTLINE:

Patients receive fluorescein sodium intravenously (IV) followed by intravital microscopic observation over 10-15 minutes during excision of the melanoma.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 3 weeks and then periodically for 5 years.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of =< 2
• Have measurable disease in their skin by direct visualization (visible lesion typically > 0.5 cm in maximal diameter); to perform a microscopic observation, the lesion will have to be visible by the naked eye, lined-up visually, and be able to interface with the microscope objective; a melanoma lesion that is smaller than 0.5 cm in diameter would present several obstacles to obtaining a reliable microscopic observation in the operating room; therefore, a visible lesion, at a minimum of 0.5 cm in diameter, is proposed for this study
• Melanoma tumor that requires a wide local excision in the operating room; this may include any stage of melanoma from stage IA to stage IV that requires a wide excision in the operating room
• Subject or legal representative must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an Independent Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure
• To determine any sensitivity to fluorescein, subject must have a skin prick test preoperatively (at the time of the preoperative visit and after signed informed consent for entry into this clinical trial is given); a negative skin prick test to fluorescein is an inclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• Melanoma deposit is deemed inaccessible to microscopic observation during the operative procedure (i.e., lesion is less than 0.5 cm or is not clearly visible to the naked eye)
• Renal dysfunction as defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 70
• Any known allergy or prior reaction to fluorescein; also, a positive skin prick test to fluorescein is considered an exclusion criteria and the patient would not be eligible for entry into this study
• Pregnant or nursing female subjects
• Unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements
• Any condition which in the Investigator's opinion deems the subject an unsuitable candidate to undergo observational study (may also include preoperative testing results including electrocardiogram [EKG], chest x-ray, or pulmonary function tests that preclude a wide excision in the operating room)