Primary Malignant Melanoma on the Trunk

Abstract

The 5-year survival rate for 194 patients with primary operable melanomas on the trunk was 35.2%. The anatomical site on the trunk of the primary tumor did not significantly affect survival rates. Survival was largely determined by the presence or absence of lymph node metastases. In their absence, 55.2% of 85 patients obtained a "5-year cure." Only 21 (19.2%) of 109 individuals with regional nodal metastases lived 5 or more years after definitive treatment. Elective lymphadenectomy is indicated, however, because over one-third of patients with clinically benign regional nodes had metastases on histologic study of resected material. The 5-year survival rate of such patients in this study was the same as that of individuals with Stage I melanomas (55%).