治疗方式对肛管直肠恶性黑色素瘤预后的影响

目的 探讨不同治疗方式对肛管直肠恶性黑色素瘤的预后影响.方法 回顾性分析1965-2007年收治的60例肛管直肠恶性黑色素瘤患者的临床资料,并对预后进行生存分析和COX风险因素分析.结果 60例患者中,肿瘤发生于直肠者50例,发生于肛管者10例.53例行手术切除治疗.对行单纯手术的23例患者和术后辅助化疗、放疗、生物治疗等综合治疗的30例患者的资料进行生存分析,总生存率差异无统计学意义(X2=0.078,P>0.05).53例手术病例中,37例行Miles术,16例行局部扩大切除术,两种术式生存分析差异无统计学意义(X2=1.464,P>0.05).风险因素分析结果提示,肿瘤浸润深度为危险因素,治疗方式为保护因素.结论 手术切除是肛管直肠恶性黑色素瘤的主要治疗手段,对肛管直肠恶性黑色素瘤病变局限者,应首选局部扩大切除术;病变深度和治疗方式是影响预后的风险因素.     

手指恶性黑色素瘤的临床特征与疗效分析

目的 探讨手指恶性黑色素瘤的临床特征及治疗效果.方法 回顾性分析1995年2月-2007年10月收治并经病理检查证实的22例手指恶性黑色素瘤的临床资料,其中拇指12例,示、中指各3例,环、小指各2例.手指黑斑及疼痛为共同的首发症状,15例有甲下病变,12例有外伤史,2例X线片显示指骨有溶骨性改变.主要采用手术、全身化疗及免疫治疗.所有患者均采用截指术,其中13例行同侧腋窝淋巴结清扫术.结果 22例患者获得随访,其中3例2年后失访.随访时间为1～10年,平均4.5年.1年生存率为86.4%(19/22),3年生存率为63.2%(12/19),5年生存率为31.6%(6/19).结论 手指恶性黑色素瘤临床少见,治疗应以手术、化疗、免疫治疗等综合方法为主.其预后与肿瘤大小、浸润深度及临床分期有关.     

手指恶性黑色素瘤的临床特征与疗效分析

目的 探讨手指恶性黑色素瘤的临床特征及治疗效果.方法 回顾性分析1995年2月-2007年10月收治并经病理检查证实的22例手指恶性黑色素瘤的临床资料,其中拇指12例,示、中指各3例,环、小指各2例.手指黑斑及疼痛为共同的首发症状,15例有甲下病变,12例有外伤史,2例X线片显示指骨有溶骨性改变.主要采用手术、全身化疗及免疫治疗.所有患者均采用截指术,其中13例行同侧腋窝淋巴结清扫术.结果 22例患者获得随访,其中3例2年后失访.随访时间为1～10年,平均4.5年.1年生存率为86.4%(19/22),3年生存率为63.2%(12/19),5年生存率为31.6%(6/19).结论 手指恶性黑色素瘤临床少见,治疗应以手术、化疗、免疫治疗等综合方法为主.其预后与肿瘤大小、浸润深度及临床分期有关.     

男性乳腺癌41例临床诊治分析

目的 探讨男性乳腺癌(MBC)的诊治经验.方法 回顾性总结长海医院21年间收治的41例男性乳腺癌患者的临床资料;分析临床及病理因素与生存率的关系.40例接受手术治疗,其中根治术11例,改良根治术25例,单纯乳腺切除术4例.结果 临床TNM分期Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ期分别为8,19,11,3例.除2例失访外,其余39例(95.1%)随访1～20年(中位7.2年),5年生存率为65.9%.其中单纯乳腺切除术,改良根治术,根治术的5年生存率分别为25%,72%和72.7%.结论 改良根治术为MBC首选手术方式,手术方式、腋窝淋巴结情况、病理分期、病理类型及ER情况等因素影响预后.     

四肢恶性黑色素瘤28例的治疗回顾分析

目的:讨论恶性黑色素瘤的治疗方法及预后。方法:回顾分析笔者科室2008年1月~2011年12月收治的28例四肢恶性黑色素瘤患者,其中男性13例,女性15例,年龄最大者68岁,年龄最小者25岁,平均年龄43岁,发生于上肢者10例,发生于下肢者18例。所有病例均经病理证实为恶性黑色素瘤。入院后未行手术治疗者先取活检,术中切口距病灶缘约1cm,病检结果证实为恶性黑色素瘤后即行扩大切除术。已行手术者行原切口缘扩大切除术,距原切口缘3~5cm,术后行放化疗。结果:28例患者术后切口均I期甲级愈合,术后随访2年,21例患者未出现病灶复发,生存质量良好。7例因肿瘤复发或转移死亡。结论:恶性黑色素瘤患者的治疗选择扩大切除,辅以术后放化疗是一种有效的方法。     

胸段食管鳞状细胞癌外科治疗与预后分析

目的 探讨胸段食管鳞状细胞癌切除术后生存率的影响因素.方法 回顾性分析1990年1月至1998年12月716例胸段食管鳞状细胞癌手术患者的临床病理资料,其中男性538例,女性178例;年龄24-78岁,中位年龄57岁.应用Kaplan-Meier法进行生存分析,组间比较用Logrank检验,采用COX模型进行多因素分析.结果 总的1、3、5和10年生存率分别为82.9%、44.3%、34.2%和25.7%.Ⅰ期、ⅡA期、ⅡB期和Ⅲ期患者的5年生存率分别为80.0%、51.2%、19.7%和13.3%.术后复发转移151例,占21.1%;其中ⅡA期、ⅡB期和Ⅲ期复发患者3年内复发率分别为84.2%、91.7%和90.O%.单因素分析表明性别、肿瘤浸润深度、淋巴结转移、病理分期、淋巴结转移区域数、组织分化、手术切缘和肿瘤复发均为预后影响因素.多因素分析显示肿瘤浸润深度、淋巴结转移、病理分期和肿瘤复发是食管癌预后的独立影响因素.结论 胸段食管鳞状细胞癌患者术后生存率的独立影响因素有肿瘤浸润深度、淋巴结转移、病理分期和肿瘤复发.手术是Ⅰ-ⅡA期食管癌的主要治疗方法,ⅡB-Ⅲ期食管癌应采用以手术为主的综合治疗.     

原发性胃肠道恶性淋巴瘤的诊治体会

目的探讨原发性胃肠道恶性淋巴瘤的临床特征、诊断和治疗。方法对广东省普宁市人民医院1999年1月～2009年12月普外科所收治22例原发性胃肠道恶性淋巴瘤患者临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果本组22例中,男性13例,女性9例,所有患者均经手术或内窥镜病理活检证实为恶性淋巴瘤,病理均为非霍奇金淋巴瘤（NHL）。病灶位于胃14例,肠道8例。给予手术、放疗、化疗等综合治疗。本组随访19例,3年生存率52.6%（10/19）,5年生存率26.3%（5/19）。结论原发性胃肠道恶性淋巴瘤发病率低,临床表现复杂,易漏诊、误诊,应早期诊断,合理治疗。治疗以手术、化疗、放疗综合治疗效果良好。     

1521例伴远处转移的黑色素瘤的预后因素

过去20年来皮肤恶性黑色素瘤的发生率每以5%的速度增长.根据美国癌肿学会统计,1995年约有7200例黑色素瘤病人死于转移,估计今后十年将有7万人死于此病.原发性皮肤黑色素瘤<0.75mm者的10年生存率可达95%,至于伴远处转移,即AJCCⅣ期病灶的生存率统计报告很少,John Wayne癌肿研究所分析1521例AJCCⅣ期黑色素瘤,对10个临床和病理变数进行了单因素和多因素分析.结果 初次诊治时,1134例为AJCCⅠ/Ⅱ期,358例隔19.8月后转为Ⅲ期,再隔9个月转为Ⅳ;362例原为Ⅲ期,隔12.6月后转为Ⅳ期;25例就诊时已属Ⅳ期.全组生存期中位值为7.5月,预计5年生存率为6%.(一)单因素分析 (1)年龄和性别:中位值年龄51岁(9～98岁),年龄与生存率不相关.61%为男性,女性的预后较好,但与绝经期前后无关.(2)原发灶部位:73%在肢体以外的部位,部位与预后不相关.(3)病灶厚度:是一预后因素,中位值厚度为2.0mm,而Ⅰ/Ⅱ期(Clark水平或Breslow深度)为<0.75mm.(4)诊断时年份:近20年虽有新疗法的开展,但治疗结果未见改善.(5)首个远处转移灶:肺占31%,皮肤和淋巴结占18%,14%就诊时已有多个转移灶.首个转移灶的部位决定随后的生存,肝、骨和脑转移者的生存期比皮肤、淋巴结和胃     

直肠肛管恶性黑色素瘤的外科治疗及预后

目的探讨直肠肛管恶性黑色素瘤的外科治疗及局部复发、预后的影响因素。方法回顾性分析50例直肠肛管恶性黑色素瘤患者的临床病理资料,并对预后进行单因素及多因素分析。结果本组47例患者行肿瘤切除术,其中31例行腹会阴联合根治术,16例行肿瘤局部切除术;术后局部复发率分别为16.1%（5/31）和68.8%（11/16）。χ^2检验显示,手术方式与局部复发相关（P=0.001）。47例患者5年生存率18.2%,单因素分析显示,病灶单发（P=0.0458）和肿瘤侵犯深度（P=0.0053）与预后相关。多因素分析显示,肿瘤侵犯深度（P=0.010）是影响预后最主要因素。结论直肠肛管恶性黑色素瘤预后差,影响预后最主要的因素是肿瘤侵犯深度,腹会阴联合根治术后复发率低。     

甲下黑色素瘤的临床特点与治疗结果

目的 总结甲下黑色素瘤的临床特点和治疗结果.方法 回顾性分析1994年1月至2010年7月由北京积水潭医院收治,并经病理检查证实为甲下黑色素瘤的31例患者的临床资料,其中21例行病变指(趾)超关节截指(趾)术;4例行序列截指(趾)术;6例行局部/扩大切除术.其中5例淋巴转移患者同时行局部淋巴结清扫,并辅以全身化学治疗和免疫治疗.结果 31例中18例获得随访,随访年限3～16年.4例行序列截指(趾)术后随访均未复发;8例行超关节截指(趾)中2例复发;6例行局部病灶切除或扩大切除术中5例复发.侵袭性甲下黑色素瘤患者1年生存率为88.9%(8/9),3年生存率为66.7%(6/9),5年生存率为33.3%(3/9).结论 甲下黑色素瘤是一种恶性程度很高的肿瘤,具有非特异性的临床表现,治疗应以手术为主,辅以化疗、免疫等综合治疗.     

原发性十二指肠恶性肿瘤54例治疗分析

目的探讨原发性十二指肠恶性肿瘤的治疗选择。方法回顾分析54例原发性十二指肠恶性肿瘤患者的临床资料。结果恶性肿瘤主要表现为皮肤巩膜黄染、腹痛、十二指肠梗阻和上消化道出血。各种检查方法的诊断正确率分别为：内窥镜逆行胰胆管造影92．8％、消化道气钡造影70．8％、胃镜50％、CT21．9％、MRI21．4％。能判断部位者肿瘤分布为十二指肠球部1例、降部45例,水平部3例,升部0例。恶性肿瘤行手术治疗48例,胰十二指肠切除术31例,胰十二指肠切除术加肠系膜上静脉部分切除术1例,局部根治性十二指肠肠段切除6例,姑息性十二指肠部分切除术1例,肠壁楔形切除术3例。胆肠内引流或／和胃空肠吻合5例,空肠造痿术1例。辅助化疗13例。总体5年生存率45．4％,3年45．4％,1年63．2％。根治手术组和姑息手术组的中位生存期分别为24、10个月,术后化疗组中位生存期38个月,无辅助治疗组中位生存期16个月,但各组比较生存期差异无显著意义。胰十二指肠切除术与局部根治性肠段切除术二组生存期比较差异无显著意义。多因素回归分析淋巴结转移、肿瘤大小、肿瘤深度、脉管癌栓、病理类型、手术方法与生存时间的相关性,只有脉管内癌栓与生存期相关。结论十二指肠恶性肿瘤的治疗以胰十二指肠切除术和局部根治性十二指肠肠段切除术为主,姑息的捷径手术可延长生存期和生存质量,提倡术后辅助治疗。     

Low-dose adjuvant interferon for stage III malignant melanoma

The role of interferon as adjuvant therapy in stage III melanoma has recently been questioned. Prospective randomized studies have shown conflicting results regarding the efficacy of adjuvant treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of low-dose adjuvant interferon alpha2-b (IFN) in stage III melanoma patients treated at a single institution. This study was a retrospective analysis of 60 stage III melanoma cases from Wake Forest University treated between 1983 and 1998. Cases were identified via the tumor registry. All patients underwent standard lymphadenectomy after diagnosis. After recovery from surgery patients were offered low-dose IFN (3 million units subcutaneous TIW for 1 month and then 6 million units subcutaneous TIW for 11 months) as adjuvant therapy for stage III melanoma. The patients were followed up jointly by medical and surgical oncology. There were 39 male and 21 female patients with mean age of 60.0 (range 37-89) years. The average number of positive nodes was 3.6 (median = 1) for the treated group and 1.8 (median = 1) for those untreated (P = 0.71). The average tumor thickness was similar between groups: 4.71 versus 4.88 mm for the IFN and observation groups respectively. The IFN group (N = 25) that received low-dose treatment had a median survival of 7.9 years with a 5-year survival rate of 69 per cent. The 35 cases that did not receive interferon had a median survival of 6.5 years and a 5-year survival rate of 52 per cent. These survival rates were not significantly different (P = 0.91). The median disease-free survival for patients who did not receive IFN treatment was 2.4 years and 1.4 years for the treated group (P = 0.19). The data show that there was similar survival for those who did and did not receive the low-dose IFN treatment. Although only large prospective trials can conclusively exclude a small survival time this experience suggests that there is no significant survival advantage to low-dose adjuvant IFN therapy for stage III melanoma patients. Hopefully upcoming cooperative group trials will clarify the potential value of adjuvant IFN in this setting. However, although the toxicity of this regimen was mild we suggest that low-dose adjuvant IFN for stage III melanoma should not be utilized outside the setting of a clinical trial.     

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??Analysis of the effectiveness of imatinib preoperative adjuvant therapy in 23 patients with locally advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor CHEN Si-le, SONG Wu, PENG Jian-jun, et al. The First Affiliated Hospital, SUN Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Corresponding author: ZHANG Xin-hua??E-mail: zhangxh_sysu@163.com
Abstract Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of preoperative adjuvant therapy with imatinib for locally advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Methods The clinicopathological data of 23 patients diagnosed with locally advanced GISTs who received imatinib as preoperative adjuvant therapy in the First Affiliated Hospital, SUN Yat-sen University from January 2008 to December 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Results Preoperative imatinib was given for 6??1-18??months, 22 patients with 400 mg/day, and 1 with 600 mg/day, with continuous oral administration. Image study for response assessment was achieved in 22 cases, of which 19 cases(86.4%) gained partial response [18 cases (81.8%) with pathologically partial response , 1 cases providing pathologically complete response (4.5%) after operation], 3 cases(13.6%)with stable disease . The tumor size was reduced 4??0-9??cm after preoperative treatment. The mean time from imatinib withdrawal to operation was 7??5-14??days. During the preoperative treatment of imatinib, the incidence of adverse event of grade 3 or above was 26.1??6/23??, including 2 cases of neutropenia(grade 3), 1 case of rash(grade 4), and 3 cases of gastrointestinal bleeding(1 case death). Complete resection was performed in 22 cases. Postoperative complications at grade 3 or above occurred to 2 patients (9.1%), both of whom were of delayed gastric emptying and resolved with conservative therapy. There were 18 cases (81.8%) with KIT exon 11 mutation, 3 cases(13.6%) with KIT exon 9 mutation and 1 case(4.5%) with KIT and PDGFRA wild-type. Twenty out of 22 patients received adjuvant therapy after operation, and the median time of adjuvant therapy was 25(4—74) months. The median time of follow-up was 50 (39—105) months, 5-year disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate were estimated to be 65.6% and 80.5%, respectively. But univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed no significant difference in progression free survival and overall survival time. Conclusion Preoperative imatinib therapy for locally advanced GISTs is generally well tolerated, and is helpful to narrow the scope of surgery. Though the incidence of serious adverse event is low, the side effects of the treatment should be observed and treated reasonably during the preoperative imatinib therapy. Whether or not imatinib preoperative adjuvant therapy can improve the total survival of patients with GIST needs to be further studied in large samples.     

The Role of Surgical Methods in the Treatment of Anorectal Malignant Melanoma (AMM)

Purpose : Anorectal malignant melanoma (AMM) is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes in patients with AMM. Methods : The study included 21 patients diagnosed with AMM between 2000 and 2010 that were evaluated with regard to age, sex, disease stage, treatment modality, and survival. Stage I, II, and III were defined as localized primary malignant melanoma, regional lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis, respectively.

Results : In all, 12 (57%) patients were female and 9 (43%) were male; median age was 61 years (range: 30–84 years). Among the 21 patients, 7 (47%) underwent abdominoperineal resection and 8 (53%) were treated using wide local excision. Four (19%) patients were classified as stage I, 10 (48%) as stage II, and 7 (33%) patients as stage III. In total, 10 patients received adjuvant therapy. Median overall and progression-free survival was 12 and 9 months, respectively. The 1-year and 5-year overall survival estimates were 59% and 42%, and progression free survival were 49% and 7%, respectively. Patients aged > 60 years (P = 0.145), female patients (P = 0.076), patients with localized disease (P = 0.045), patients that underwent wide local excision (P = 0.619), and patients that received adjuvant therapy (P = 0.962) had longer survival.

Conclusions : The prognosis of AMM remains very poor and disease stage is the only predictor of survival. Abdomino-perineal resection does not confer an advantage, in terms of survival, in patients with AMM.     

局限进展期胃肠间质瘤行伊马替尼术前辅助治疗23例疗效分析

目的 探讨局限进展期胃肠间质瘤（GIST）行伊马替尼术前辅助治疗的有效性和安全性。方法 回顾性分析中山大学附属第一医院2008年1月至2013年12月确诊为局限进展期GIST并接受伊马替尼术前辅助治疗的23例病人的临床病理资料。结果 术前伊马替尼治疗中位时间为6（1～18）个月,22例400 mg/d,1例600 mg/d持续口服。22例获得有效的影像学评价,其中,19例（86.4%）影像学评价为部分缓解［1例术后证实病理学完全缓解（4.5%）;实际部分缓解18例（81.8%）］;疾病稳定3例（13.6%）。无原发耐药进展的病人。经过术前治疗,肿瘤缩小中位数为4（0～9）cm。伊马替尼术前停药时间为7（5～14）d。伊马替尼术前治疗期间,3级或以上不良反应发生率26.1%（6/23）,其中3级粒细胞减少2例,4级药疹1例,消化道出血3例（1例死亡）。手术完整切除22例。术后发生3级以上手术相关并发症2例（9.1%）,均为术后延迟性胃排空,均经保守治疗后治愈。22例病人中,KIT基因外显子11突变18例（81.8%）,KIT基因外显子9突变3例（13.6%）,KIT和PDGFRA野生型1例（4.5%）。20例病人术后接受辅助治疗,辅助治疗中位时间25（4～74）个月。随访中位时间为50（39～105）个月。预计术后5年无病存活率和总存活率分别为65.6%和80.5%。但单因素及多因素Cox回归分析显示,术后无进展生存及总生存时间与各种因素无相关性。结论 伊马替尼术前辅助治疗局限进展期GIST总体耐受良好,有助于缩小手术范围,严重不良反应发生率低,治疗期间应注意观察和合理处理药物副反应。伊马替尼术前辅助治疗能否改善GIST病人总生存期尚待进一步大样本研究。     

原发性肛管直肠恶性黑色素瘤29例诊治体会

目的了解肛管直肠恶性黑色素瘤的生物学特性和根治性外科手术在治疗该病中的临床意义。方法回顾性总结自１９６５年至１９９５年在我院接受治疗的肛管直肠恶性黑色素瘤患者２９例的临床和病理资料。结果本组女１９例,男１０例,平均年龄５０岁。２９例患者中,接受了根治性手术（Ｍｉｌｅｓ手术）２３例。术后复发１７例,复发率为７４％（１７／２３）,主要复发部位为远处转移。以性别,癌灶体积,色素产生,浸润深度和淋巴结转移为变量分析与预后的关系,仅淋巴结转移与术后复发的关系非常密切（Ｐ＜００５）。其余６例接受姑息性手术治疗。全组病例术后总５年生存率为２９％。根治性手术病例术后５年生存和无病生存率分别为３７％和２８％。未切除的６例全部死亡。中位生存期为１３５个月。结论肛管恶性直肠黑色素瘤是一种恶性程度极高的肿瘤。即使施行根治性外科手术治疗预后亦不佳。术中见到有淋巴结转移者预后更差。     

Prognostic factors and benefits of adjuvant therapy for ampullary cancer following pancreatoduodenectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Ampullary cancer is a relatively rare gastrointestinal malignancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors for survival and assess the benefits of adjuvant therapy following pancreaticoduodenectomy for this entity. Medline and EMBASE databases were searched to identify eligible studies from January 2000 to August 2019. Review Manager 5.3 statistical software was used for meta-analysis. 71 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis for a total of 8280 patients. The median (range) 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 58% (32–82%) and 51% (28–73%) respectively. In meta-analysis, age >65 years at diagnosis, tumor size >20 mm, poor differentiation, pancreaticobiliary histotype, pT3-4 stage disease, presence of metastatic lymph node, number of metastatic nodes, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, vascular invasion, pancreatic invasion, and positive surgical margins were independently associated with worse overall survival, whereas adjuvant therapy was associated with improved overall survival. In summary, in patients with ampullary cancer undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, tumor factors are the main predictors of worse survival and adjuvant treatment confers a survival benefit.     

Primary mucosal malignant melanoma of the oral cavity

Mucosal malignant melanoma arising from the head and neck region is a rare entity, and it is more aggressive than cutaneous melanoma. Furthermore, the complex anatomy of the oral cavity makes complete surgical excision difficult. Thus, early diagnosis and treatment of a mucosal lesion are important. In this study, three mucosal malignant melanoma cases and the literature have been reviewed. Three cases who presented with a primary malignant melanoma of the oral cavity have been retrospectively analyzed. All three patients were female with a mean age of 31.3 years, and the median follow-up period was 18.6 (6–36) months. The tumor was located on the maxillary gingiva in case 1 and in the hard palate–maxillary gingiva in cases 2 and 3. Case 2 had a distant metastasis during first admission. The tumor was excised with a 2-cm surgical margin in all cases. Case 2 received adjuvant chemotherapy. During the follow-up period, case 1 had a cervical lymphadenopathy 8 months after the first operation, so she underwent cervical lymph node dissection then received chemotherapy. Melanoma of the oral cavity is very rare with an extremely poor prognosis. As some melanomas may be amelanotic, a high index of suspicion is necessary. A biopsy should be taken from any suspicious lesion in the oral cavity. Surgical excision combined with adjuvant therapy is the main treatment approach for these cases. Prognosis of the disease depends on early diagnosis and treatment. A multicenter prospective study is required to introduce staging of the disease and the optimal treatment regimen.     

Clinical node-negative thick melanoma

BACKGROUND: Patients with T4 N0 M0 melanoma are considered at high risk for having occult metastases, and adjuvant therapy is usually recommended. HYPOTHESIS: Long-term survival in patients with thick melanoma is not universally poor. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PATIENTS: We evaluated clinical node-negative thick (> or = l4.0 mm) melanoma in 151 patients who received their primary definitive surgical treatment in our department. None of these patients received any adjuvant therapy. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 44 months; median thickness, 5.5 mm. Median overall (OS) and disease-free survivals (DFS) were 70 (5-year survival, 52%) and 51 months (5-year survival, 47%), respectively. Patients with node-positive disease faired significantly worse than did those with node-negative disease. Median OS and DFS for patients with node-positive disease were 49 and 32 months (5-year survival, 35%), respectively, compared with 209 (5-year survival, 61%) and 165 months (5-year survival, 56%), respectively, for patients with node-negative disease. Similarly, OS and DFS were significantly lower when the primary tumor had at least 5 mitoses/mm(2) or was located in the head and neck region. After multivariate analysis, status of the lymph nodes was the most predictive variable for OS and DFS. CONCLUSIONS: The thickness of melanoma, by itself, should not be used as a criterion for adjuvant therapy. Other prognostic factors should be considered.