[Late metastasis in malignant melanoma of the skin]

Among a total of 680 patients with advanced malignant melanoma, the interval between removal of the primary tumour and first manifestation of tumour progression was more than five years in 47 (6.9%: 28 women and 19 men, mean age 45 [range 27-70] years), more than 10 years in ten of them. In only eight was the thickness of the primary tumour more than 3 mm. A total of 29 patients died after the tumour progression. Survival time ranged from 1 to 120 months, mean 18 +/- 23 months. There was no correlation between manifestation-free interval and survival time after the first progression had occurred. It is concluded from these findings that patients with malignant melanoma should be followed up for at least ten years.