Prognoses and surgical treatment of patients with stage I melanomas of the skin: a retrospective analysis of 211 patients.
From 1960 to 1982, a total number of 216 patients with Stage I melanoma underwent local excision as the single treatment. Life-table analysis was performed on 211 evaluable patients to investigate the prognostic value of several factors on survival as well as disease-free survival. The influence of sex, age, localization of the tumor, and margin of the excision on prognosis was not statistically significant. The Clark level and Breslow thickness were important factors to predict the prognosis. Local recurrence occurred in only one patient; in most cases tumor growth close to the original site of excision indicates early manifestation of hematogenic spread. Lymph node metastases developed in 31 patients; ten of them remained free of disease after node dissection. Six patients died from hematogenic metastases without nodal involvement. Tumors with thickness less than 1.5 mm have excellent prognosis regardless of the location of the melanoma or the margin of the excision. With increasing thickness of the tumor, prognosis is proportionally worse. By performing wide excisions the final outcome can not be improved.
Welvaart
K
K
Hermans
J
J
Zwaveling
A
A
Ruiter
D J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*