title: Hyperthermic limb perfusion for malignant melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma.
abstract: From 1982-1989, 113 hyperthermic limb perfusions were carried out in 102 patients. Ninety-three patients were treated for malignant melanoma and nine for soft tissue sarcoma. 47/93 patients had high-risk stage I melanoma with a 5-year survival rate of 89%. For the 46 patients treated for recurrent and metastatic melanoma the projected 5-year survival rate was 40%. The nine patients with soft tissue sarcoma were perfused for local recurrences or because of anatomically difficult tumor locations. 3/9 patients subsequently developed recurrent disease of the extremity; two of these patients had to be treated by amputation. The rate of major complications was low: no patient died in the postoperative course, an amputation due to toxic reaction was never required. Erythema and oedema (57%), severe skin reaction (6%) and transient nerve palsy (15%) were common side effects of therapy. Only two cases of leucopenia were observed (2%). The favourable results after hyperthermic limb perfusion show the efficacy of this method in the treatment of malignant melanoma and selected cases of soft tissue sarcoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Heidelberg, FRG.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kettelhack
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hupp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schlag
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D008558:Melphalan