Influence of level and depth on recurrence rate in thin melanomas.
A population-based study of the biology of the thin-level melanoma according to site, Breslow's thickness, and Clark's level was undertaken. Two hundred fifteen patients were studied with a mean follow-up of 41 months. Overall, 23 patients (10.7%) had recurrences, 8 locally, 9 regionally, and 6 systemically, despite an adequate local excision. A multivariate analysis was done. In the patients with thin lesions (less than 1 mm), increasing level (p < 0.002) and head and neck site (p < 0.04) increased the risk of recurrence. Increasing thickness of melanoma up to 1 mm did not influence the risk. This study identifies a group of high-risk melanoma patients for whom adjuvant therapy to decrease recurrences should be studied.
Pontikes
L A
LA
Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Temple
W J
WJ
Cassar
S L
SL
Lafrenière
R
R
Huchcroft
S A
SA
Jerry
L M
LM
Alexander
F
F
Marx
L H
LH
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*