title: Prognostic factors in invasive cutaneous malignant melanoma: a population-based study and review.
abstract: A population-based study from Sweden identified 711 patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma diagnosed in 1965, 1975, 1985 and 1989. Prognostic factors were evaluated and a review of the literature was performed. On univariate analysis, thick tumours (> 0.8 mm) (odds ratio [OR] 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-2.1), increasing Clark level (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.6-2.0), ulceration (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.6-2.0), nodular melanoma (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.6) and increasing age (continuous variable, P < 0.0001) were associated with a shorter survival. Location on extremities (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-0.9), inflammation (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-0.9) and female gender (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.8-0.9) were associated with improved survival. On multivariate analysis, thick tumours (> 0.8 mm) (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2-1.7) and ulceration (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.6) were independently related to a poor prognosis, while location on extremities (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-0.9), inflammation (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-0.9) and female gender (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.8-1.0) were associated with improved survival. No difference in mean tumour thickness was seen over time, but there was a significant increase in the percentage of thin melanomas (< 0.8 mm) in 1985 (P = 0.01) and 1989 (P = 0.002) compared with 1965. The incidence of melanomas with inflammation increased significantly (P = 0.04), as did age at diagnosis (P = 0.005).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Lund, S-221 85 Lund, Sweden. anna.masback@skane.se
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Måsbäck
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Westerdahl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ingvar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jonsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009506:Nevus / Q000473:pathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013548:Sweden