Epidemiological and histopathological profile of cutaneous melanoma at a center in northeastern Brazil from 2000 to 2010.
BACKGROUND
While representing only 3-4% of malignant skin tumors, cutaneous melanoma is the most aggressive and lethal. Statistical knowledge about the biological behavior of this tumor is essential for guiding daily outpatient practice and aiding public health policies.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the profile of patients with cutaneous melanoma attending a pathology department in Teresina (state of Piauí) between 2000 and 2010.


METHODS
Retrospective study of melanoma patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2010 in the São Marcos Hospital in the city of Teresina. The pathology laboratory reports were studied and all the statistical analyses performed using SPSS 19.0.


RESULTS
A total of 25 in situ, 199 invasive and 89 metastatic melanomas of unknown primary site were observed. Histological types found were nodular (52.8%), superficial spreading melanoma (18.6%), acral (10.6%) and lentigo maligna (9.5%). In 144 (73.4%) cases the Breslow thickness was >1 mm. Metastasis was found in 28.6% of invasive melanomas and nodular melanoma, Clark IV/ V, Breslow > 1 mm, mitotic index > 6 and ulcerated lesions were more likely to metastasize.


CONCLUSIONS
Most melanomas presented Breslow> 1mm. The main factors associated with metastasis were nodular type, Clark IV / V, Breslow > 1mm, mitotic index > 6 and ulcerated lesions.
Piauí Federal University, TeresinaPI, Brazil.
Camila Maria Arruda
CM
Vilanova
Rafael Bandeira
RB
Lages
Sahâmia Martins
SM
Ribeiro
Isabella Parente
IP
Almeida
Lina Gomes dos
LG
Santos
Sabas Carlos
SC
Vieira
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors