[Ultra-late metastasis of melanoma with secondary dissemination along the venous stripping line].
BACKGROUND
A woman was cured of a melanoma of the leg. She presented an ultra late recurrence 17 years later, then rapid and extensive recurrence immediately after venous stripping.


METHODS
In 1977, a 38-year-old woman was operated for a SSM melanoma of the calf. She was then given chemotherapy and BCGtherapy for 2 years. In 1994, she presented a nodular recurrence which was treated surgically. In March 1997, she underwent a stripping of the leg. One month later, a nodular recurrence was discovered along the stripping line.


CONCLUSIONS
The ultra late recurrence (> 15 years) in this case is highly exceptional and, to our knowledge, this is the first case of a recurrence along a vascular course. We discuss metastatic dissemination of SSM melanoma and the role played by stripping in this case of recurrence.
Nicolas
C
C
Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Fournier, 36 quai de la Bataille, 54035 Nancy Cedex.
Reichert-Penetrat
S
S
Granel
F
F
Barbaud
A
A
Schmutz
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors