title: Surgical treatment of advanced melanoma.
abstract: Primary surgical treatment should be considered for patients with metastatic melanoma. Because of the poor response of melanoma to chemotherapy or radiation therapy, surgery can be the best approach to quickly eliminate detectable disease and return the patient to normal activities. In properly selected patients, surgery can lead to significant palliation and prolongation of survival. This article reviews the principles of patient selection and the potential benefits of surgical management of melanoma metastatic to various sites. Novel adjuvant therapies are being developed to augment the benefits of surgical treatment of advanced melanoma in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Plastic Surgery Associates, 22370 Bluemound Road, Waukesha, WI 53005, USA. cjhussussian@mac.com
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hussussian
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D010166:Palliative Care; D018579:Patient Selection; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate