Pulmonary metastasectomy for melanoma

After primary tumor treatment, 30% of patients with malignant melanoma develop metastatic disease, usually associated with a poor prognosis. Effective chemotherapeutic regimens for metastatic melanoma are not currently available. Surgical treatment of pulmonary metastases remains controversial because of the dismal survival rates reported in several studies. However, for patients with good performance status, long disease-free interval, limited metastatic disease, and less aggressive tumor biology, it remains an option. The authors have analyzed their experience in 26 patients operated on between 2000 and 2008 alongside a review of the large series in the literature