[Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of surgical treatment and pulsed laser therapy for malignant skin melanoma, stage I].

The report deals with a comparison of the effectiveness of surgical (300 cases) and pulsed laser treatment (wavelength of 1,060 nm, pulse duration-1 ms) (230 cases) for skin melanoma, stage I, degree I-IV invasion (Clark). All patients were followed up for 5 years and longer. Following laser therapy, local recurrencies were detected in 0.75% while regional and distant metastases were identified in 24.8%; in 45.6%, they were detected within the first 12 months of follow-up. Treatment by radiation from a powerful pulse source proved effective for cutaneous melanoma, stage I, degree I-IV invasion (Clark). Total 5-year survival was 83.2%. All patients with degree I invasion have survived 5 years, and are still alive, degree II-92.3%, degree III-85.7% and degree IV-80.5%. For surgical treatment, total 5-year survival was 78.7%. All patients with degree I invasion have survived 5 years and are still alive, degree II-85.5%, degree III-78.9% and degree IV-68.4%.