Malignant melanoma. Role of node dissection reappraised.
Two hundred and fifty-nine patients with malignant melanoma have been reviewed. One hundred and fifty of these were determinate. A primary excision and dissection in continuity of the tumor, the intervening lymphatics, and the regional lymph nodes achieved a 5-year survival free of disease for 67.5% of the patients. When the nodes were clinically negative but microscopically positive, 45% survived. An electric discontinuous node dissection offers no better prognosis than does a therapeutic dissection and is not indicated in the primary treatment of malignant melanoma.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*