The role of abdominal resectional surgery in metastatic melanoma

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We reviewed our experience to determine the role of resectional surgery in metastatic melanoma to the abdomen. METHOD: An observational study of 25 patients at the Austin Hospital, Melbourne from 1997 to 2005. RESULTS: The median survival after abdominal resectional surgery was 8.3 (range 0.4-41.1) months. Fourteen patients who underwent resection with curative intent (extra-abdominal disease controlled and complete macroscopic clearance of abdominal disease) had improved survival compared with 11 patients who underwent palliative resection (12 month survival, 89 vs 10%, respectively, P < 0.0001). Survival was also superior in patients with up to two metastases compared with more..