Hepatic resection for malignant melanoma

Patients with metastatic melanoma have a poor prognosis with a median survival of approximately 6 months. There is a paucity of data regarding the natural history of the disease in the small subset of patients who are suitable for hepatic resection for metastatic disease confined to the liver. Five patients were identified from a prospectively collected database of over 1000 liver resections performed in Basingstoke between 1986 and 2004. Clinical details and survival were analysed. Two patients died within 12 months of resection from extrahepatic disease. The other three patients are alive and disease-free at 76, 92 and 147 months, respectively. In carefully selected cases, hepatic resection for metastatic melanoma to the liver can result in long-term survival. Criteria for selection of patients as suitable for resection remain unclear.