TREATMENT OF MALIGNANT-MELANOMA OF SKIN

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 146  (5) , 779-782
Abstract
A review of 117 melanomas occurring in 115 patients suggests the appropriateness of the therapeutic decisions based on tumor behavior, determined by microstaging. Local control of level II lentigo maligna melanoma was achieved, in most instances, by local excision with visibly free margins and primary closure. In most other instances of melanoma, adequate local control was accomplished by wide 3-dimensional excision, 5 cm margins.sbd.closure usually required grafting. Minor amputation was performed with satisfactory results in those patients with appropriate lesions in the volar-subungual area. Regional lymphadenectomy in patients with level IV and V disease in whom the tumors drained to a single node basin revealed occult metastases in 25% of the patients and, therefore, appears warranted as prophylactic treatment. Preliminary data on recurrences suggest that the frequency of the recurrence paralleled the biologic aggressiveness of the tumor, determined by microstaging in association with the presence or the absence of lymph node metastases.

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