Retrospective evaluation of malignant melanoma patients: A single-center experience

Abstract

Introduction: Melanoma is a cancer arising from the malignant transformation of melanocytes. It is mostly seen in the skin, eyes, mucosal membranes, and meninges. Melanoma is one of the fastest rising of all cancers in the world. Methods : We retrospectively examined the medical records of adult patients who were diagnosed with melanoma between January 2005 and December 2013 according to the Hospital-Based Cancer Registry (HBCR) of Hacettepe University Oncology Hospital. Results : A total of 338 patients [193 (57.1%) men and 145 (42.9%) women] were included in the study. The male to female ratio was 1.3/1. The mean age of patients was 55.2±15.2 years (minimum-maximum: 16-87 years). The rate of male patients was higher in patients with cutaneous and uveal melanoma (respectively, 56.8% and 58.6%), whereas the rate of female patients was higher in patients with mucosal melanoma (female: 55.6% and male: 44.4%; respectively, p=0.746 and p=0.518). The median follow-up time was estimated to be 27.7 months (1-103 months). During follow-up period, 127 (37.6%) patients died, and 16 (4.7%) patients were lost to follow-up. The median overall survival time was 76.3 months. The 5-year survival rate was 53%. When all patients were evaluated according to melanoma subtypes, patients with melanoma of unknown primary origin had the lowest median survival time (6.4 months). Conclusions : It is necessary to increase the awareness of people about melanoma and to make physicians more sensitive about skin examination in order to detect cutaneous melanomas in the early stages. Cancer Registry (HBCR) of Hacettepe University Oncology Hospital. Information on gender, age and date of diagnosis, tumor localization, size and histological subtype, types of melanoma (cutaneous, mucosal, choroidal), Breslow depth, Clark level, presence of spontaneous regression and ulceration, mitotic index, presence of satellite nodules and capsular invasion, BRAF mutation status, nodal involvement, surgical margin, and Tumor, Nodes, Metastasis (TNM) stage were obtained from pathology reports and operation notes. Metastatic sites detected at the time of diagnosis or at follow-up were recorded. We also recorded immunotherapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy regimens and their start and stop times, number of cycles, curative or palliative surgical procedures and their dates, and curative or palliative radiotherapy and their dates.