Isolated regional perfusion in the treatment of malignant melanomas of the extremities.

The authors present a survey of changed views on the treatment of patients with malignant melanoma of the extremities. In addition to conventional therapy, regional perfusion is discussed. Over the period 1964-1970, 115 perfusions were performed in 75 patients. The perfusions were confined to patients with a tumor infiltrating beyond the stratum papillare. The 4-year survival of 30 patients with a primary tumor, without demonstrable metastases at the moment of perfusion, was found to be 77%. The percentage of local recurrences was significantly lower after perfusion than after conventional surgery.