The follow-up data on 39 cases of stage I malignant melanoma treated with CO2 laser are compared to those of an analogous group of cases treated by traditional surgical methods and selected for their clinical and pathologic similarities with the laser-treated group. The findings were expressed in terms of tumor-free time and were evaluated by variance analysis. The data showed that traditional methods gave better results. CO2 laser surgery requires longer healing time, which may have a negative effect on the course of the disease.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
FruhlingJ., LejeuneF.J., Van HoofG.: Lymphatic migration after laser surgery.Lancet, 2: 973–974, 1977.
2.
LarsenT.E., GrudeT.H.: A retrospective histological study of 669 cases of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma in clinical stage I. Histological classification, sex and age of patients, localization of tumour and prognosis.Acta Pathol. Microbiol. Scand. (A), 86: 437450, 1978.
3.
LeeJ.A.H., YongcharyaiyudhaS.: Incidence of and mortality from malignant melanoma by anatomical site.J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 47: 252–263, 1971.
4.
MagnusK.: Prognosis in malignant melanoma of the skin: significance of stage of disease, anatomical site, sex, age and period of diagnosis.Cancer, 40: 389–397, 1977.
5.
McCarthyW.H., ShawH.M., JonesP.H.: Laser surgery for malignant melanoma and superficial malignancies. Aust. N.Z.J.Surg., 48: 656–661, 1978.
6.
McGovernV.J.: Malignant melanoma: Clinical and Histological Diagnosis.Wiley, New York, 1976.
OosterhuisJ.W.: Lymphatic migration after laser surgery.Lancet, 1: 446–447, 1978.
9.
RealiU.M., ChiarugiC.: CO2 laser in plastic surgery: healing times for flaps and grafts.Ital. Gen. Rev. Derm., 21: 5–18, 1984.
10.
RealiU.M., CiardiC., ChiarugiC., DonatiE., QuercetaniR.: Trattamento chirurgico del melanoma cutaneo I stadio. Follow-up clinico in rapporto alla tecnica di ricostruzione.Riv. Ital. Chir. Plastica, in press.
11.
RealiU.M., DonatiE., CappugiP., CangiG.: Melanoma maligno cutaneo I stadio. Follow-up clinico di pazienti sottoposti a trattamento chirurgico.Riv. Ital. Chir. Plastica, 14: 515–520, 1982.
12.
RogersG.S., KopfA.W., RigelD.S., FriedmanR.J., LevineJ.L.: Effect of anatomical location on prognosis in patients with clinical stage I melanoma.Arch. Dermatol., 119: 644–649, 1983.
13.
ShawH.M., McGovernV.J., MiltonG.W., FaragoG.A., McCarthyW.H.: Malignant melanoma. Influence of site of lesion and age of patient in the female superiority in survival.Cancer, 46: 2731–2736, 1980.
