title: Prognosis for recurrent stage I malignant melanoma.
abstract: The outcome of patients with stage I malignant melanoma has been well assessed in terms of prognostic factors and their effect on survival; however, little is known of the recurrence patterns of cutaneous melanoma or the survival of these patients subsequent to recurrence. A retrospective, computer-aided chart review identified 4185 patients with melanoma who had stage I disease clinically. During a follow-up period of one to 14 years, 35.9% suffered a recurrence. Melanoma of the trunk (37.8%) and head and neck area (46.1%) had an increased incidence of recurrent metastases compared with melanoma of the extremities (29.8%). Local regional metastases accounted for 62.5%, 77.3%, and 85.6% of the recurrences in the head and neck, trunk, and extremity primary sites, respectively, with 65% of the relapses occurring within the first three years. Actuarial five-year survival rates of patients who had recurrent disease were significantly decreased compared with those of patients who had no evidence of metastases during their clinical course. A multivariate analysis was performed to estimate the survival of patients after recurrence. One may use this mathematical model to predict the outcome of individual patients after recurrence and provide a more rationally based prognosis for them and their families.
authors: Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Reintgen
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Vollmer
authors: C Y
authors: CY
authors: Tso
authors: H F
authors: HF
authors: Seigler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*