title: Melanoma of the lower extremities: foot site is an independent risk factor for clinical outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the better prognosis of melanomas localized on lower extremities, some studies have suggested that melanomas on the foot are related to a poorer survival and should be considered separately.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review our case series of cutaneous melanomas on the lower extremities and to analyze the clinicopathological association, time course, types of progression, and survival differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 1671 patients (stage 0-II) with a cutaneous melanoma on the lower extremities (subungual melanomas were excluded). Of these, 327 were localized on the foot. Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate disease-specific survival and disease-free interval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Distribution of known prognostic factors and patterns of progression of foot and leg melanoma differ across genders. The foot site was confirmed as a negative independent prognostic factor on disease-specific survival and disease-free interval.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Foot melanoma could represent a particular subgroup, which could require specific management in the future.
authors: Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Sanlorenzo
authors: Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Osella-Abate
authors: Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.|Section of Dermatologic Surgery, Department of Oncology and Hematology, San Giovanni Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Ribero
authors: Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Marenco
authors: Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors: Tiziana
authors: T
authors: Nardò
authors: Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors: Maria Teresa
authors: MT
authors: Fierro
authors: Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Novelli
authors: Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors: Ornella
authors: O
authors: Cervetti
authors: Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors: Maria Grazia
authors: MG
authors: Bernengo
authors: Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Quaglino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016208:Databases, Factual; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma