[Ultra-late metastasis of melanoma with secondary dissemination along the venous stripping line].

Background: A woman was cured of a melanoma of the leg. She presented an ultra late recurrence 17 years later, then rapid and extensive recurrence immediately after venous stripping.

Case Report: In 1977, a 38-year-old woman was operated for a SSM melanoma of the calf. She was then given chemotherapy and BCGtherapy for 2 years. In 1994, she presented a nodular recurrence which was treated surgically. In March 1997, she underwent a stripping of the leg. One month later, a nodular recurrence was discovered along the stripping line.

Discussion: The ultra late recurrence (> 15 years) in this case is highly exceptional and, to our knowledge, this is the first case of a recurrence along a vascular course. We discuss metastatic dissemination of SSM melanoma and the role played by stripping in this case of recurrence.