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Canadian Journal of Surgery logoLink to Canadian Journal of Surgery
. 2001 Jun;44(3):189–192.

Isolated limb infusion for melanoma: a simple alternative to isolated limb perfusion

Rizwan Mian *,, Michael A Henderson †,, David Speakman , David Finkelde , Jill Ainslie , Alan McKenzie §
PMCID: PMC3699125  PMID: 11407828

Abstract

Objective

To describe initial experience with the new technique of isolated limb infusion (ILI) for in-transit melanoma.

Design

A prospective case series.

Setting

The major tertiary care oncology centre for the state of Victoria, Australia.

Patients

Nine patients having for extensive in-transit limb melanoma

Interventions

All patients received ILI (13 treatments).

Outcome measures

Patient survival, response to treatment and complications of treatment.

Results

There were no perioperative deaths and morbidity was limited to deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in 1 patient. Control of the intransit metastases was achieved to some degree in all patients and was complete in 4.

Conclusions

ILI is an alternative treatment modality for patients suffering from multiple, advanced intransit melanoma metastases. It provides effective palliation with limited morbidity and offers a safe, quick, inexpensive alternative to isolated limb perfusion with comparable results.

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