The morphological features of locally recurrent melanoma and cutaneous metastases of melanoma

Local recurrence of melanoma at the primary excision site usually implies t hat the primary excision was incomplete or "inadequate" and that the recurr ence was attributable to retained primary melanoma cells or occult melanoma metastases in the adjacent tissue. Pathologists frequently report these tu mors in the scar as recurrent or residual melanoma, apparently without cons idering the possibility that they may be local metastases and manifestation s of systemic disease. In this study of 72 cases, we have shown that the mo rphological features of locally recurrent melanoma, excluding persistent in completely excised primary melanoma, and cutaneous metastases of melanoma w ere identical. Because the prevention of local recurrence is the main reaso n for wide excision of melanoma beyond complete excision of the primary tum or itself, it is essential that pathologists should classify these neoplasm s precisely as either persistent incompletely excised primary melanoma or m etastatic melanoma Hunt PATHOL 30:551-555. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saund ers Company.