[Retrospective evaluation of the safe reduction of surgical margins of resected stage-IIA cutaneous melanoma of the trunk and extremities].

The paper deals with analysis of 102 case histories locally-advanced 1.51-4.00 mm-thick cutaneous melanomas (CM) of the trunk and arms and legs operated on at the Center's Clinics and 52--at the Regional Oncological Dispensary, Samara. The effectiveness of relatively conservative procedures of treating CM of "medium" thickness and "intermediate" prognosis were assessed by histological analysis of resected material. CMs with such characteristics conform to the specifications of stage IIA of the criteria used by the American Joint Committee on Staging of Cancer (AJCC). The study of the time and frequency of relapse and dissemination of tumor in 154 patients provided the guide-lines for determining optimal extent of surgery to excise CM stage IIA of the trunk and arms and legs. Excision of 1.5-4.00 mm-thick CMs with 2 cm-wide margins left should be considered safe and less traumatic.