title: Clinicopathologic features of primary cutaneous melanoma: a single centre analysis of a Swiss regional population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanoma is a common type of skin cancer with poor survival in advanced stages. Screening efforts aim to detect and tackle tumors at an early stage. However, regional population-based data at the time of initial diagnosis are sparse.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse clinical and pathologic tumor characteristics in a Swiss population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Melanoma samples diagnosed at a large Swiss academic department were evaluated for demographic, clinical and histopathologic data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analysed a total of 254 melanoma samples. In situ tumors were more common in females than in males (70.6% vs. 29.4%; p = 0.0032). The acro-lentiginous subtype was more common in in situ compared to invasive tumors (14.7% vs. 5.5%; p = 0.0011). Invasive tumors showed a preference for male gender in patients beyond 60 years of age (p = 0.0080). The most frequent anatomic sites were the trunk in males and the legs in females. Regression was more common in males than in females (35.2% vs. 11.7%; p = 0.0001). Breslow's thickness correlated significantly with age but not with gender. Ulceration was common in tumors thicker than 2.01 mm (48.4%; p = 0.0001). Regression was frequently detected in melanomas thinner than 1.00 mm (29.3%; p = 0.0263).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening efforts should target elderly patients. Skin examinations should include acral localisations and focus on the trunk in males and the lower extremities in females. Population-based analyses can help to fine-tune melanoma screening in defined regional populations.
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Frauenlobstraße 9-11, 80337 Munich, Germany.
authors: Markus V
authors: MV
authors: Heppt
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Frauenlobstraße 9-11, 80337 Munich, Germany.
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Reinholz
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Frauenlobstraße 9-11, 80337 Munich, Germany.
authors: Julia K
authors: JK
authors: Tietze
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Gloriastraße 31, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Katrin
authors: K
authors: Kerl
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Gloriastraße 31, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Lars E
authors: LE
authors: French
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Frauenlobstraße 9-11, 80337 Munich, Germany.
authors: Carola
authors: C
authors: Berking
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Gloriastraße 31, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Jivko
authors: J
authors: Kamarashev
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013557:Switzerland; D060726:Torso
keywords: Swiss population; melanoma epidemiology; melanoma pathology; melanoma surveillance; skin cancer prevention; skin cancer screening