Major amputations for melanoma.

Major amputation is an infrequently performed procedure for melanoma. Less than one per cent of patients seen at our unit have had a major amputation for melanoma. Thirty-two patients who had a total of thirty-four amputations have been reviewed in this article. The most frequent indication for amputation has been intractable local recurrences not responding to other forms of treatment. Amputation is only considered in patients with no evidence of systemic disease. Our conclusion, based on survival figures after amputation, is that the procedure has a palliative role in some cases of advanced localized melanoma, with a few long term cures.