POSITIVE DEEP NODES IN THE GROIN AND SURVIVAL IN MALIGNANT-MELANOMA

A review of 48 consecutive patients with positive deep nodes in the gr oin and positive inguinal nodes from malignant melanoma was carried ou t. The deep nodes were enlarged (>2 cm) in 60% of the patients. The es timated 5-year survival rate following dissection of the deep nodes wa s 34%, 31% for those with palpable nodes (n = 40) and 50% for those wi th non-palpable (n = 8) inguinal nodes (P = 0.13). The overall 10-year survival rate was 25%. Involvement of the deep (iliac or obturator) n odes in malignant melanoma does not indicate systemic dissemination fo r all patients, as an appreciable percentage attains long-term surviva l after a thorough dissection of these nodes.