Local melanoma recurrences in the scar after limited surgery for primary tumor

The clinical and histologic records of 46 consecutive patients were reviewed who during the period 1980-1993 had recurrence from melanoma in the scar after limited surgery for a skin tumor. They constituted about 50% of all patients admitted with local recurrence from melanoma during this period. At reexamination of the primary tumors, 16 were found to be malignant melanomas and 9 were nevi (four atypical and five benign). Twenty-one were missing, 11 of which had never been set for histologic examination. The median thickness of nine measurable melanomas was 0.66 mm. The recurrences in scar consisted of 34 primary melanomas: 18 superficial spreading, 4 nodular, 3 lentigo malignant, and 9 unclassified. Twelve tumors were dermal melanoma metastases. The median thickness of the 25 measurable melanomas was 0.78 mm. The 5-year overall survival was 69%. At the closing date of the study 15 patients had died, 13 of them because of disseminated melanoma. A comparison of the survival curves from this study with those from other series of melanomas with comparable tumor thickness indicates a considerably worse prognosis than is expected with such thin tumors. We believe that the considerable number of local recurrences in the form of a new primary in a scar following limited surgery supports the theory of limited field change around a primary melanoma. Furthermore, limited procedures for primary melanoma, if followed by a recurrence in the scar, worsen the prognosis.