title: [Preventive lymph node excision in the treatment concept of melanoma of the extremities].
abstract: Since 1979, our treatment protocol for extremity melanoma includes regional lymph node dissection, wide tumor excision and hyperthermic limb perfusion. We report on the results of a follow-up of the 451 patients treated in the first decade. 58.5% of patients presented with a primary tumor, additional 7.4% with a local recurrence or satellite metastases without evidence for further tumor extension. Regional lymph node metastases were not found below a tumor thickness of 1.5 mm; then micrometastases occurred in 5-10%, macrometastases at over 1.9 mm in up to over 15% of tissue specimens. 5-year survival was 90% if nodes were negative, 66% if there were micrometastases and 30% for further lymph node metastases. We conclude that patients may benefit from prophylactic dissection of regional lymph nodes if careful selection according to pathohistological and clinical criteria is performed.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemein- und Thoraxchirurgie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henneking
mesh_terms: D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005121:Extremities / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate
vernacular_title: Die prophylaktische Lymphknotendissektion im Behandlungskonzept des Extremitätenmelanoms.