title: [Surgical therapy for pulmonary metastases from malignant melanoma].
abstract: Results of previous studies question the benefits of pulmonary surgery in patients with pulmonary metastases from malignant melanoma. A systematic literature search and analysis of articles published since 1 January 2000 was carried out to investigate the advantages of metastasectomy and alternative forms of therapy. Patients reached a median survival time of 17-40 months and 5-year survival rates between 18% and 39.4% after metastasectomy. Intrathoracic recurrence occurred in 30 % of patients but could be successfully treated with re-operations in some cases. Various monoclonal antibodies are currently available and achieve a median survival time of up to 17 months. Pulmonary metastasectomy is the treatment of choice in selected patients; however, in the future the benefits should be revalidated in comparison with pharmaceuticals of the current generation.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Fakultät, Universität zu Köln, Joseph-Stelzmann-Straße 20, 50931, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Macherey
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlaak
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Doerr
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grönke
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heldwein
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quaas
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zander
authors.forename: Khosro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hekmat
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000401:mortality; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome