title: Malignant melanoma of the external ear.
abstract: Twelve patients with primary melanoma of the external ear were treated during a 10-year period. Ten patients were males. Median melanoma depth was 2.1 mm and seven patients had lesions deeper than 2 mm. Eight of 12 lesions were either Clark level IV or V. Six patients had wedge excisions of the primary lesion and all developed recurrent disease (local: three). Six patients underwent wide excision and none developed local recurrence. All patients with primary disease less than 2 mm are alive. Only two of seven patients with lesions deeper than 2 mm have survived. The definitive excision for melanoma of the ear should encompass wide margins despite the cosmetic consequences. Lesser procedures inevitably lead to local recurrence. Melanoma deeper than 2 mm penetration on the ear in our series had a poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Krige
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Strover
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis