Results of treatment of patients with melanoma of unknown primary site

Abstract

Background. Diagnostics and quality treatment improvement of patients with metastases of unknown primary site. Methods. A retrospective chart review of patient history cases and outpatient’s cards was carried out relating to 581 patients with Metastases of Unknown Primary Site Malignances (MUPSM) who were examined and treated in the Clinical Oncological Dispensary, Kazan City, Russia, over the period from 1996 until 2008. Based on histological examination of metastases, 36 patients were diagnosed with melanoma. Results. The number of patients with melanoma of unknown primary site accounts for 6,2% of total number of patients with CUP (Cancer of Unknown Primary). It was confirmed that the immunohistochemical examination has proven to be the principle method of morphological diagnosis in the above group of patients with melanoma of unknown primary site. The survival rate of the patients with Melanoma of Unknown Primary were correlated with the survival rate of the patients with similarly advanced metastases but with diagnosed primary origin. The five-year survival rates for the stage IIIC are 18,2% and 18,4% (p=0,042); for the stage IV are 7,1% and 6,0% (p=0,078) respectively. Conclusion. It is worthwhile to define the stage of the diagnosed melanoma of unknown primary site in accordance with TNM-2002 classification. The survival rate of the above group of patients is comparable to the results, obtained in the patients group with diagnosed primary origin. The missing primary site in metastatic melanoma is not a factor which significantly affects the survival rates of the above groups of patients.