Prognostic parameters in recurrent malignant melanoma.

In 361 patients with recurrent malignant melanoma, the clinical stage was the strongest determinant of subsequent survival (P less than 0.01). In Stage IV, the number of initial, distinct lesions was important. Patients presenting with a single metastatic nodule had median survival ten months, whereas those with two or more metastatic nodules had median survival 6.9 months (P less than 0.05). The length of disease-free interval from excision of the primary to recurrence correlated consistently with subsequent survival in patients with regional lymph node metastases. Those with disease-free interval less than one year had median survival 15.8 months with 16% surviving at five years, while those with interval one year or longer had median survival 23.7 months with 30% surviving at five years (P less than 0.05). In Stage IV, the correlation of survival with disease-free interval became significant only with 24 months as the demarcation point of length of disease-free interval. Age and sex affected the disease-free interval, but not survival after recurrence.