[After-care of melanoma. 8 years' experience using the Mainz model]

Since 1972, patients suffering from malignant melanoma have been checked up at our hospital, after primary treatment, for a period of 10 years at an average interval of 3 months. X-ray controls of the chest and ultrasonic investigations of the abdomen are carried out every 6 months. In some cases, additional ultrasonic detection of lymphatic nodules is useful. Based on our experiences with numerous patients with malignant melanoma, we distinguish malignant, prolonged, and intermediate types of metastasizing melanomas. Periodical check-ups seem to be especially helpful in patients with beginning lymphatic metastases, who fall under the prolonged type. During the control period, the mortality rate was less high than we had expected it to be, although 46% of our patients showed metastases.