Clinico-Pathological Profile of Patients with Malignant Melanoma of Extremity: Short Term Single Centre Experience

Abstract

Introductions : Malignant melanoma is a rare skin cancer in Asia but both incidence and mortality rates are increasing in last few decades.Clinical and pathological assessment of patients with malignant melanoma establishes a definite diagnosis and is important for patient prognosis and management. Materials and Method : We present clinical and pathological profile of 14 patients with malignant melanoma of extremity presenting at State Cancer institute, GMCH from September 2018 to May 2019. Of them, 10 patients underwent wide excision of the primary lesion along with regional lymph node dissection . Rest 4 patients underwent wide excision only. Specimens were sent to the department of Pathology , GMCH for histopathological examination. Immunohistochemistry was also done. Results : The most common site of melanoma is the lower extremity. Incidence was found to be higher in males compared to females with median age of presentation 54 years. Majority of patients are farmers or labourers. Ulceration is the most common mode of presentation. Maximum patients presented within 6 months of onset of symptoms. Based on TNM , Clark and Breslow classification, 35.5% (n=5)were Clark stage 4, 35.5%(n=5) were clark stage 5 which were the most common and 78.5% (n=11) were breslow stage 4. Conclusions: Although malignant melanoma are rare neoplasms, incidence has increased in few decades. Lymph node staging should be done in all cases even if clinically and radiologically negative. Surgery with adjuvant treatment remains the mainstay of management.