malignant melanoma

• arise from preexisting nevi; 1% of all cancers
• 30-40% mortality

• metastases: latent period of 2-20 years (most commonly 2-5 years)
  • lymphadenopathy
    • in 23% with level II + IV (see: staging)
    • in 75% with level V
  • bone (11-17%)
    • often initial manifestation of recurrence; poor prognosis
    • axial skeleton (80%); ribs (38%)
  • lungs (70% at autopsy)
    • most common site of relapse; most common cause of death
  • liver (58% at autopsy): may be calcified, necrotic
  • spleen (1-5%): solid or cystic
  • bowel + mesentery (8%): mostly in small bowel
  • kidney (35%); adrenals (50%); subcutis

see: malignant melanoma: gallium imaging

© 2002, C.E. Kahn, Jr.
2002-04-18