ELECTIVE LYMPH-NODE DISSECTION IN PRIMARY MALIGNANT-MELANOMA - A MATCHED-PAIR ANALYSIS

The role of elective lymph node dissection (ELND) in primary malignant melanoma is still controversial. Our purpose in this study was to eva luate the benefit from ELND on survival and disease-free survival in m alignant melanoma of the trunk and extremities. We performed a matched -pair analysis on 750 patients. There was no significant benefit from wide local excision (WLE) plus ELND compared with WLE in the total gro up. Increased survival rates were noted for tumour thicknesses of 1.51 -4.0 mm for the WLE+ELND group, as shown by 10-year survival rates of 73.1% vs 60.3% (p = 0.14). A significant benefit of ELND was detected for malignant melanoma of the trunk (p < 0.05). Disease-free survival rates were significantly higher in the collective treated by additiona l ELND for all tumour thicknesses (p < 0.05) and even more in intermed iate tumour thicknesses of 1.51-4.0 mm (p < 0.001). Our data give furt her support that ELND may be valuable in improving the prognosis in ca se of malignant melanoma of intermediate Breslow thickness.