title: A study of thin (< 1.5 mm) malignant melanomas with poor prognosis.
abstract: 555 cases of malignant melanoma less than 1.5 mm in depth were studied. 30 recurred locally or metastasised during follow-up. The width and depth of excision was similar in those with and without recurrence. There were no local recurrences in tumours < 1.0 mm which had been completely excised, irrespective of the width of excision. Other variables, the size of the primary tumour (p < 0.03), the depth of uninvolved dermis deep to the lesion (p < 0.01), the Clark level (p < 0.03) and the presence of lesional regression (p < 0.001), identify a sub-group of thin melanomas which have a poor prognosis irrespective of local treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Aberdeen University, Scotland.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blessing
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: McLaren
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate