Outcome of patients following hepatic resection for metastatic cutaneous and ocular melanoma.

Background/purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome of patients undergoing hepatic resection for melanoma liver metastases.

Methods: Patients undergoing liver resection for melanoma metastases at the Hospital Vall d'Hebron and Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, were reviewed. Selection criteria were: good performance status, feasibly complete and safe resection, and absence of visceral extrahepatic metastases.

Results: Between 1994 and 2007, 14 liver resections were performed for melanoma liver metastases. The primary tumor was cutaneous in 8 patients and ocular in 6. Two patients underwent urgent liver surgery due to tumor bleeding. In these patients, complete melanoma staging was not performed and extrahepatic metastases were found during surgery or during the postoperative course. Six of 13 patients (46.2%) developed liver recurrence during follow-up. One- and 3-year actuarial patient survivals were 77 and 49%, respectively. Excluding the patients who underwent urgent liver surgery, the 1- and 3-year actuarial patient survivals in those with primary ocular and cutaneous melanoma were 83 and 56% and 80 and 60%, respectively.

Conclusions: Liver resection may be considered as part of oncosurgical treatment in patients with melanoma liver metastases, since prolonged survival was observed, albeit with a high recurrence rate. Nevertheless, it should be taken into account that our study included only a small number of patients.