Resection of pulmonary metastases from malignant melanoma: results of a 16-year experience.

Between 1970 and 1986, 49 patients had resection of presumed pulmonary metastases from malignant melanoma. Sixteen patients were found to have benign disease only despite the appearance of a new nodule in 13. Patients with benign disease had a significantly longer mean survival (169 months) compared with the group with malignant disease (22 months). Median survival for all patients with malignant disease was 13 months. Survival after resection did not correlate with the Clark level of the original lesion, lymph node status, disease-free interval, or number of nodules on preoperative tomograms. Two of 10 patients with 1 nodule resected are long-term survivors (88 and 120 months). Exploration in patients with presumed pulmonary metastases from melanoma is justified to rule out benign disease even if a new solitary nodule is detected. There are no prognostic indicators predicting survival after resection of melanoma metastases, and a significant number of patients will have benign disease.