Etiology and prognosis of local recurrence in malignant melanoma of the skin.

All patients with stage I and stage II malignant melanoma of the skin were analyzed for stage; time of local, regional, or systemic recurrence, or two or more of these events; presence or absence of ulceration of the primary tumor; thickness of the primary tumor; level of invasion according to Clark; and margins of resection. Local recurrence had a significant negative impact on the long-term survival of patients. Our data revealed that local recurrence had the same poor prognostic effect as regional or systemic recurrence, or both. Factors significant in predicting local recurrence included the primary tumor characteristics of ulceration of the primary tumor and thickness of the primary tumor. Margins of resection and level of invasion were not noted significant in predicting local recurrence.