Recurrent Melanoma

Disclaimer:
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Content is sourced from third parties, and we do not guarantee accuracy or accept any liability for its use. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical guidance.

What is Recurrent Melanoma?

Recurrent melanoma is the return of melanoma after initial treatment, either local (near original site), regional (lymph nodes), or distant (metastatic to organs). It occurs in 5-10% of stage I-II, 20-30% of stage III. In 2025, ~10,000 US cases, with risk highest in first 2-3 years post-treatment.

Symptoms

Symptoms include new skin lesions/moles near scar, swollen lymph nodes, lumps under skin, persistent cough (lung recurrence), abdominal pain (liver), bone pain, headaches/seizures (brain), or fatigue/weight loss. Early recurrence may be asymptomatic, detected via surveillance.

Causes

Recurrence results from residual microscopic cells evading initial therapy, driven by mutations (BRAF, NRAS) and immune escape. Risks include high initial stage, ulceration, high mitosis, and inadequate margins. In 2025, ctDNA predicts recurrence risk.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis uses physical exam, imaging (CT, PET, MRI), biopsy, and blood tests (LDH). Surveillance includes skin checks and scans. In 2025, liquid biopsies detect recurrence early.

Treatment

Local recurrence uses surgery/radiation; regional adds lymphadenectomy/immunotherapy; distant uses targeted (BRAF inhibitors), immunotherapy (ipilimumab + nivolumab), or ADCs. In 2025, TIL therapy achieves 40% response.

Future Outlook

In 2025, 5-year survival post-recurrence is 30-50% for regional, 10-20% for distant. TIL and combinations improve to 40%. By 2030, vaccines/ctDNA could raise to 60%.

Sources

The information for recurrent melanoma is sourced from NCI’s “Melanoma Treatment” for overview; Mayo Clinic’s “Recurrent Melanoma – Symptoms and causes” for symptoms; PMC’s “Recurrent Melanoma: Current Trends” for updates; Healthline’s “Recurrent Melanoma: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis” for diagnosis; Cleveland Clinic’s “Recurrent Melanoma” for treatment.