[Surgical treatment and regional chemotherapy in melanoma of the extremities].

Since 1979, our treatment protocol for extremity melanoma includes wide local excision, regional lymph node dissection and hyperthermic limb perfusion. We report on the results of a follow-up of the patients treated in the first decade (n = 451). According to the UICC Classification of 1987, 4% of our patients were in stage I, 36% in stage II, 50% in stage III and 9% in stage IV. The respective 5-year survival rates were 93%, 91%, 49%, and 20%. We conclude that regional chemotherapy appears to be beneficial even for stage II patients, as 5-year survival rates of more than 90% can be achieved.