[Surgical therapy of malignant melanoma of the external ear].
METHODS
The data from our patients of the last 10 years were evaluated in relation to survival and recurrence.


RESULTS
Very different surgical therapy-in some cases due to refusal of the therapy suggested-was performed in eight patients (including wedge shaped excision as well as ablation of the auricle). The mean survival ranged from 40 months up to the present. One patient died due to a local recurrence and regional and systemic metastases. One patient experienced local recurrence but is still well 16 months after he underwent surgical revision. Two patients died independently of the tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
Comparison of our results with those of other studies confirms that the extent of the applied resection has of minor effect on recurrence and survival for this disease. Tumor thickness is the most important independent prognostic factor.
Dost
P
P
Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Essen. dost@st-augustinus.de
Lehnerdt
G
G
Kling
R
R
Wagner
S N
SN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate