title: Disseminated melanoma presenting as a catastrophic event.
abstract: The possibility of a patient with malignant melanoma having a catastrophic event as the presenting sign of tumor dissemination cannot be dismissed. Should such an event occur, it would pose not only a risk to the patient, but also a potential risk to others. Since 1971, 712 patients with malignant melanoma have been evaluated. Twenty patients presented with brain metastases and an additional 12 patients developed brain metastases simultaneously with other organ involvement. Four patients (0.6%) had a catastrophic event, such as a stroke or seizure, with no antecedent symptoms. Microstaging of a primary melanoma by the methods of Clark and Breslow, in addition to the recognition of the presence or absence of regional lymph node metastases, provides reliable information for predicting the probability of tumor dissemination. Patients with deep primary melanomas or with lymph node metastases should be advised regarding their participation in potentially hazardous occupations or recreations.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009461:Neurologic Manifestations