Hyperthermic perfusion in malignant melanoma: 5-year results.

Between December 1975 and December 1980 a total of 154 patients with potentially curable malignant melanoma were treated by adjuvant hyperthermic perfusion. The basic therapy consisted in local excision of the primary tumor with elective dissection of the regional lymph nodes. The 4- and 5-year survival rates for our 103 patients with stage-I disease who were perfused are 90% +/- 9% and 80% +/- 17%. The 4- and 5-year survival rates for 51 patients with stage-II disease are 50% +/- 16% and 37% +/- 28%. Compared with historic control groups of patients who were treated at our hospital with the same surgical methods but without perfusion, essentially better results were achieved with adjuvant hyperthermic perfusion. It is concluded from our results that hyperthermic perfusion can further improve the prognosis for patients with malignant melanomas of the limbs.