Pulmonary Metastasectomy for Melanoma

Early-stage melanoma has a favorable prognosis with a 94% 5-year survival rate, but survival declines significantly with metastasis. Traditional treatments like metastasectomy have evolved due to advancements in targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors, improving 5-year survival rates from 18% in 2009 to 52% in 2018. The lung is the most common site for metastasis, and the criteria for pulmonary metastasectomy have changed, allowing for surgical intervention even with extrapulmonary metastasis if complete resection is possible. This highlights the role of thoracic surgeons in selecting ideal candidates for surgery, emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach and minimally invasive techniques.