BACKGROUND: Patients who develop metastatic melanoma often have limited effective treatment options. However, a select group of patients will benefit from aggressive surgery or a multidisciplinary approach, depending on the site of metastasis. METHODS: The current literature was reviewed and summarized regarding the collective recommendations for staging and treating patients with metastatic melanoma. RESULTS: A thorough preoperative staging includes positron-emission tomography, MRI of the brain, and CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Tumor biology ultimately determines the success of intervention. A long disease-free interval is a good indicator of potential benefit from resection of metastatic disease. If surgery is performed, no less than a complete resection will affect the overall survival of the patient. Surgery and other multimodality treatment options can be used for symptomatic palliation but will not affect survival. Chemotherapy and radiation are often used to control the symptoms of brain and bony metastases but have limited if any impact on survival. CONCLUSIONS: A select group of patients with metastatic melanoma will benefit from aggressive surgery. Identifying which patients will benefit from treatment requires good clinical judgment and a thorough radiologic evaluation to identify the true extent of disease.
BACKGROUND:Patients who develop metastatic melanoma often have limited effective treatment options. However, a select group of patients will benefit from aggressive surgery or a multidisciplinary approach, depending on the site of metastasis. METHODS: The current literature was reviewed and summarized regarding the collective recommendations for staging and treating patients with metastatic melanoma. RESULTS: A thorough preoperative staging includes positron-emission tomography, MRI of the brain, and CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Tumor biology ultimately determines the success of intervention. A long disease-free interval is a good indicator of potential benefit from resection of metastatic disease. If surgery is performed, no less than a complete resection will affect the overall survival of the patient. Surgery and other multimodality treatment options can be used for symptomatic palliation but will not affect survival. Chemotherapy and radiation are often used to control the symptoms of brain and bony metastases but have limited if any impact on survival. CONCLUSIONS: A select group of patients with metastatic melanoma will benefit from aggressive surgery. Identifying which patients will benefit from treatment requires good clinical judgment and a thorough radiologic evaluation to identify the true extent of disease.
Authors: Hla Win-Piazza; Valentina E Schneeberger; Liwei Chen; Daniele Pernazza; Harshani R Lawrence; Said M Sebti; Nicholas J Lawrence; Jie Wu Journal: Cancer Lett Date: 2012-02-01 Impact factor: 8.679
Authors: Niloofar Fadaki; Servando Cardona-Huerta; Lea Martineau; Suresh Thummala; Shih-Tsung Cheng; Steve R Bunker; Richard Garcia-Kennedy; Wei Wang; David Minor; Mohammed Kashani-Sabet; Stanley P L Leong Journal: BMJ Case Rep Date: 2012-10-22
Authors: Harriet M Kluger; Kathleen Hoyt; Antonella Bacchiocchi; Tina Mayer; Jonathan Kirsch; Yuval Kluger; Mario Sznol; Stephan Ariyan; Annette Molinaro; Ruth Halaban Journal: Clin Cancer Res Date: 2011-04-12 Impact factor: 12.531
Authors: Jeffrey A Sosman; James Moon; Ralph J Tuthill; James A Warneke; John T Vetto; Bruce G Redman; P Y Liu; Joseph M Unger; Lawrence E Flaherty; Vernon K Sondak Journal: Cancer Date: 2011-03-31 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: A Testori; P Rutkowski; J Marsden; L Bastholt; V Chiarion-Sileni; A Hauschild; A M M Eggermont Journal: Ann Oncol Date: 2009-08 Impact factor: 32.976