Treatment of malignant melanoma--a review of 111 cases.

In a study of 110 patients with 111 malignant melanomas, the most important factors in determining the ultimate prognosis were: the sex of the patient, the site of the lesion and the clinical stage of the melanoma at the time initial treatment was carried out. When there was no spread beyond the primary area, the five-year survival rate was 64%. Excisional biopsy is preferable even though the dangers of incisional biopsy may have been overestimated in the past. The value of prophylactic lymph node dissection has not yet been unequivocally proved. The rationale for isolated perfusion therapy in the treatment of malignant melanoma is sound; nevertheless, the effect of this adjunct on survival and cure must await future critical analysis.