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Primary tumour excision with a surrounding margin of 3 cm reduced recurrence in melanomas > 2 mm thick

Clinical impact ratings Dermatology Oncology Surgery

Key Words: melanoma • skin neoplams

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

METHODS
Design: randomised controlled trial.

Allocation: concealed.^*

Blinding: blinded (monitoring committee).^*

Follow up period: a median of 60 months.

Setting: 21 hospitals, 2 infirmaries, 1 cancer therapy network in the UK, and 1 cancer centre in Poland.

Patients: 900 patients >18 years of age (mean age 57 y, 52% men) who had a single primary localised cutaneous melanoma (2 mm in thickness) on the trunk or limbs (excluding the palms of hands or the soles of the feet) where a 3 cm excision margin was technically possible. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, a history of cancer (except basal cell carcinoma), and treatment with immunosuppressive agents.

Intervention: primary tumour excision with a total surrounding margin of 1 cm (n = 453) or 3 cm (n = 447). All excisions were extended to or included the deep fascia.

Outcomes: incidence of local, in transit, or nodal tumour recurrence and a composite endpoint comprising . . . [Full text of this article]

Robin Marks, MBBS, MPH, MRACP, FACD, FRACP

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia