J Korean Med Sci.
2019 Apr;34(16):e126. 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e126.
Clinicopathologic Features and Prognostic Factors of Primary Cutaneous Melanoma: a Multicenter Study in Korea
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Dermatology, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea. dermsung@schmc.ac.kr
- 2Department of Dermatology, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. dermap@daum.net
- 3Department of Dermatology, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Department of Dermatology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
- KMID: 2443592
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e126
Abstract
- BACKGROUND
Malignant melanoma is a cutaneous malignancy with a high mortality rate and high potential for metastases. Detailed information on the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of cutaneous melanoma is currently limited in Korea. This study aimed to identify the epidemiological and clinicopathologic characteristics of primary cutaneous melanoma in Korean patients, and to assess which prognostic variables could influence both the development of metastases in primary cutaneous melanoma and overall survival (OS).
METHODS
A total of 261 patients diagnosed with primary cutaneous melanoma in seven medical centers between 1997 and 2017 were retrospectively investigated with regard to clinical presentation, localization of the tumor, histopathologic subtype, and survival time.
RESULTS
The nodular histologic subtype, ulceration, and Breslow thickness were significantly associated with the development of metastasis; and overweight and obesity (body mass index > 23) were significantly associated with increased Breslow thickness. The location of the metastases appeared to influence OS: brain metastases were associated with the highest risk of death, followed by gastrointestinal, lung, and extra-regional lymph node metastases.
CONCLUSION
In this study, tumor thickness, nodular histologic subtype, and ulceration predicted metastatic spread of primary cutaneous melanoma. In addition, OS was associated with the location of metastases. Obesity was related to the prognosis of primary cutaneous melanoma. Clinicians should bear these findings in mind when forming a diagnosis because of the risk of a poor prognosis.
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