title: [Treatment of malignant melanoma (clinical stages I and II) (author's transl)].
abstract: The uncorrected cumulative five-year survival rate ("actuarial method") among 195 patients with infiltrative malignant melanoma of the skin was 58% (160 cases) in clinical stage I, 26% (35 cases) in clinical stage II. In addition to clinical staging, microstaging - i.e. the histologically determined depth of invasion of the primary tumour - is of great prognostic significance. In microstages 2 and 3 with the largest vertical tumour diameter below 0.76 mm, five-year survival rate was 100% while in microstage 3 with greater vertical tumour diameter it was 66% in microstage 4 55% and microstage 5 31%. Results of treatment can be reliably interpreted only if they are divided according to microstage. Propylactic dissection of the regional lymph-nodes (dissection in clinical stage I) need not be undertaken in microstages 2 and 3 with vertical tumours diameter below 0.76 mm. Whether prophylactic dissection was done in one or two sessions has apprarently no significant influence on survival rate. A single X-radiation dose to the primary tumour of 4 000 -6000 R immediately before excision of the tumour did not significantly increase the results. The results were particularly bad when the primary tumour was removed after inadequate manipulation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: Therapie des malignen Melanoms der klinischen Stadien I und II. Ergebnisse bei 195 Patienten