720 cases of malignant melanoma were treated in 30 years at the Cancer Institute of Milan. In 12 of these cases the primary site of the tumor remained unknown: metastases were found 10 times in the lymph nodes, twice in the subcutis, once in the bone (rib). The incidence of occult primary melanoma is 1.6 per cent.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BodenhamD. C.: A study of 650 observed malignant melanomas in South West region.Ann. roy. Coll. Surg. Engl., 43: 218–239, 1968.
2.
ClarkR. L., and McDonaldE. J.: The natural history of melanoma in man. In: Pigment cell growth, p. 139–148, Academic Press, New York, 1953.
3.
PackT. G., and MillerT. R.: Metastatic melanoma with indeterminate primary site. Report of two instances of longterm survival.J.A.M.A., 176: 55–56, 1961.
4.
OlsenG.: The malignant melanoma of the skin.New theories based on a study of 500 cases. p. 32–34. The Finsen Institute and Radium Center, Copenhagen, 1966.
