Management of solitary melanoma metastasis of the brain.
A retrospective analysis of 31 patients operated upon for cerebral secondary melanoma was conducted. There was no operative mortality and no operative complications in 76% of cases. Significant and life-threatening complications occurred in five patients (17%). The major benefit from surgical excision is relief of symptoms: 64% had complete remission of symptoms while a further 20% were substantially improved. A few patients' lives were prolonged by surgery and there are a number of long-term survivors. Surgical excision should be performed when a patient has an accessible solitary cerebral secondary without evidence of melanoma elsewhere.
Guazzo
E P
EP
Neurosurgical Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
Atkinson
R L
RL
Weidmann
M
M
Effeney
D J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies