ORLANDO – En bloc excision can cure melanoma in situ of the nail apparatus without amputation, while also preserving function and quality of life, according to the results of a retrospective study of patients treated with this approach.
At 3 years’ follow-up, there were no melanoma recurrences in any of 29 patients treated with the digit-sparing excision, Dr. Thomas Knackstedt said at the annual meeting of the American College of Mohs Surgery. Follow-up telephone interviews found that patients retained full function of the affected finger, and reported virtually no quality of life impairment.
“Because treatment without disarticulation or amputation can provide these excellent long-term cure rates in nail apparatus melanoma in situ, it should be the first-line treatment whenever possible,” said Dr. Knackstedt, a Mohs surgeon in East Greenwich, R.I.
Although similar excellent outcomes have been reported with wide local excision, Dr. Knackstedt said it remains a controversial treatment for nail apparatus melanoma in situ (NAMis).
He reviewed his institution’s experience with treating 29 cases of NAMis with en bloc excision: removal of nail folds, matrix, bed, hyponychium, and margins. All of the surgeries were performed between 2005 and 2015. The current mean follow-up time is 35.5 months for clinic visits and 39 months for telephone contact. The longest follow-up is 103 months. There have been no melanoma recurrences.
The patients were a mean of 39 years old. Melanoma appeared most often on the thumb (seven patients) and hallux (six). The average duration of the lesion was almost 5 years, although that varied from 6 months to 13 years.
Twenty-four patients (83%) presented with longitudinal melanonychia, with an average diameter of 4.1 mm. Four patients (14%) had complete melanonychia, and one patient had erythronychia.
Most of the cases were repaired with a full-thickness skin graft. One was left to heal by second intention, and one case was repaired by a dorsal metacarpal artery flap.
There were two wound infections, one case of delayed graft necrosis, seven nail spicules, and two cysts. There were no cases of tendon injury. One patient complained about temperature sensitivity in the affected finger. There were no cases of disease recurrence, although one patient with a nail spicule did show disease persistence. The spicule was excised, and that patient remains disease free 5 years later, Dr. Knackstedt said.
The telephone survey collected data from 23 patients (79%). Patients were unanimous in reporting that they were “very satisfied” with their treatment. In an 11-question quality of life survey, 78% said that the surgery affected their quality of life “only a little” or “not at all.” On a 10-point Likert scale with 10 being most affected by the surgery, the mean rating was 1.3.
“In light of these results, and when we consider that even a distal joint amputation can reduce the functionality of a finger by 40%-80%, we conclude that en bloc excision must be considered as a viable alternative to amputation for NAMis,” Dr. Knackstedt said.
He had no relevant financial disclosures.