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Metastasectomy in malignant melanoma
C P Karakousis1, A Velez, D L Driscoll
1Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263.
Surgery
|March 1, 1994
Summary
Surgical resection of distant melanoma metastases can be beneficial for selected patients. This approach offers an appreciable 5-year survival rate, higher than other treatments, for patients with disseminated melanoma.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Melanoma Research
Background:
- Metastatic melanoma treatment remains challenging.
- Surgical resection of distant metastases is an option for some patients.
- Further definition of applicability, benefit, and prognostic factors is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the outcomes of surgical resection for distant melanoma metastases.
- To identify prognostic parameters for patient selection.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 114 patients with resected distant melanoma metastases.
- Multivariate analysis to identify significant prognostic factors.
Main Results:
- Median survival after metastasectomy was 19 months; 5-year survival rate was 22%.
- Survival rates varied by metastasis site: 33% for subcutaneous, 22% for lymph node, 14% for pulmonary.
- Significant prognostic factors included primary melanoma thickness, number of metastatic lesions, and prior disease-free interval.
Conclusions:
- Surgical resection of distant metastases is applicable in approximately 25% of disseminated melanoma cases.
- Adherence to selection criteria yields an appreciable 5-year survival rate.
- This survival rate surpasses that of other available treatments for metastatic melanoma.