Small-bowel resection for metastatic melanoma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether complete resection of small-bowel metastases from melanoma improves patient survival.


METHODS
A computer-aided chart review.


METHODS
Hospitals associated with McGill University.


METHODS
Twenty patients (17 men, 3 women), identified from 1524 patients with melanoma, who underwent surgery to the small bowel for metastases. Patient age and clinical presentation, tumour site and stage were recorded.


METHODS
Exploratory laparotomy with complete or partial resection of involved small bowel.


METHODS
Operative morbidity, mortality and length of survival related to the extent of small-bowel resection.


RESULTS
Eleven patients had complete resection, 8 patients had partial resection and 1 patient had a palliative bypass only. Long-term survival (ranging from 2 to 10 years) was 36% in those who had complete resection and 0% in those who had partial resection; operative morbidity and mortality were 20% and 15% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Complete resection of small-bowel metastases in patients with metastatic melanoma can result in long-term survival.
al-Sheneber
I F
IF
Department of Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Que.
Meterissian
S H
SH
Loutfi
A
A
Watters
A K
AK
Shibata
H R
HR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007078:Ileal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D007580:Jejunal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016019:Survival Analysis