Retrospective analysis of cutaneous malign melanoma cases

Retrospective Analysis of Cutaneous Malign Melanoma Cases Although there are several treatment methods and preventive studies, cutaneous malign melanoma is still a skin cancer with poor prognosis and has an increasing incidence worldwide. Studies on malign melanoma are limited to epidemiologic and survival analysis in our country. These studies may only reflect the prevalence at some certain geographical areas. In this study, of the patients treated in our clinic, demographic features, characteristics of the disease, staging-oriented sentinel lymph node biopsies, therapeutic modalities and survival periods are evaluated retrospectively and compared to the current literature to contribute to epidemiology studies of malign melanoma in Turkey. At Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Clinic of Medicine Faculty of Çukurova University, 137 patients, who were treated and followed up for malign melanoma between January 2004 and December 2013, are evaluated retrospectively. The mean follow up period for the patients is 33 months (8-116 months). Age, gender and localization of tumor are not found to be of significant value for survival (p>0,27). Malign melanoma is most prevalent at head and lower extremities while occurring less frequently at upper extremities and trunk. Nodular malign melanoma as a histopathological subtype is the most prevalent (46.7%)and has the worst prognosis. Overall survival period is detected 69.8±4.8 months. Amongst the patients with malign melanoma who have underwent the sentinel lymph node biopsy; Breslow thickness more than 4 mm (50.4%), Clark invasion level of 4-5 (80%) or the presence of ulceration (43.1%) are statistically associated with a significant risk of micro-metastasis (p: <0.008). When patients at increased risk (Breslow thickness more than 4 mm, Clark invasion level of 4-5, presence of ulceration, nodular subtype of malign melanoma and tumors located at head and neck) with negative sentinel lymph node biopsy, a percentage of 23 has presented with recurrence and metastasis. The characteristics of the disease, which are Breslow thickness, Clark level of invasion, histopathological subtype, mitotic index, ulceration and presence of micro-metastasis as a result of sentinel lymph node biopsy, are found to be independent factors determining the survival period (p:0. 0001). In this study, Breslow thickness, Clark level of invasion, histopathological subtype, micro-metastasis as result of SLNB, mitotic index and presence of ulceration are detected as prognostic factors. Demographics of the patients, survival period and incidence of histopathological subtypes are shown to differ from those of patients with malign melanoma in western population.