Melanoma of Unknown Prognosis

Patients with an unknown primary tumor site have better outcomes than those with a known primary.

Melanoma in which macroscopic nodal disease derives from an unknown primary (MUP) is difficult to classify and manage. Depending on the cryptic primary site, disease can be characterized as stage III or stage IV. Many physicians would infer stage III disease and offer interferon and leave consideration of newer stage IV drugs for possible future use. Pertinent to the counseling of patients, however, some studies have shown that MUP outcomes resemble outcomes in stage IV disease. The Sydney Melanoma Unit recently published study results that challenge this notion.

They searched a large, single institution's database to identify 551 melanoma patients who first presented with macroscopic nodal disease and underwent therapeutic lymph node dissec…

Reviewing Author

Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD

Disclosures

Consultant / advisory board Lubax; WorldCare Clinical

EquityLubax

Grant / Research support NIH; Department of Defense; American Skin Association; Piramal

Editorial boardsBritish Journal of Dermatology; Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology; Journal of Investigative Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Chair, Skin Cancer and Melanoma Committee); American Board of Dermatology (Director)