Successful systemic management of stage IV melanoma continues to be elusive because of the paucity of effective therapies. This has fueled the continued interest in surgical resection. Several single-institution studies and a current, large, multi-institutional phase III trial have demonstrated a survival benefit for patients who underwent surgical resection for melanoma metastases. Incorporating these results into new approaches using multimodality treatment may enhance survival in patients with stage IV melanoma.
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Mosca, P. J., Teicher, E., Nair, S. P., & Pockaj, B. A. (2008). Can surgeons improve survival in stage IV melanoma?.Journal Of Surgical Oncology, 97(5), 462-468. doi:10.1002/jso.20950