title: [Metastasizing malignant melanoma from unknown primary tumor].
abstract: Among a total of 1426 patients with malignant melanoma, the site of the primary tumor was unknown in 24 patients (1.7%), most of whom were male (20 of these 24 patients were male, the remaining 4, female). The average age of these 24 patients correlates with the age distribution of the 1426 patients. In half the patients under scrutiny, the first metastases were found in lymph nodes, and one quarter of these developed metastases to the brain or skin. The 21 patients it was possible to follow up over the entire period of their case history had a poor prognosis. The 5-year survival rate after excision of the first metastases was only 14%. In 8 patients the medical history indicated a previous pigmented tumour on the skin. In 4 of these patients melanophages were also found within depigmented scars located in the drainage area of the lymph nodes involved. However, there were no signs of a primary tumour either on the mucous membranes or in the eyes in any of the other patients.
authors: Hautklinik, am Klinikum Nürnberg.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Paul
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Müllhofer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary; D011379:Prognosis; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary
chemical_list: D009418:S100 Proteins
vernacular_title: Das metastasierende maligne Melanom bei unbekanntem Sitz des Primärtumors.