Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer that has a tendency of early lymphatic and hematogenous metastasis. Surgical excision constitutes as a methods of treatment. Early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment of melanoma, which is primarily associated with Breslow and Clark grading. The aim of this study was to investigate these and other prognostic parameters such as the age, the gender and the anatomical distribution of melanoma, macroscopic and histological type of melanoma, the size and the remains of the tumor tissue at the surgical margins. We analysed biopsy material of Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine in Pristina from 2004 to 2017. year. We found that melanoma were more common at older men (average age of 68.5 ± 14.6 years), most common location was back, head and neck, upper and lower extremities, where were frequent occurrence of metastasis (Clark IV). Larger tumors require a wider excision. The greatest incidence was nodular type melanoma and predominant histological were epitheloid type melanoma. Between the size of the tumor masses and the depth of invasion there were no statistically significant positive correlation, which leads to the conclusion that the Clark and Breslow can be used as prognostic factors because they are mutually comparable.
Lachiewicz AM, MPH MB, PhD MPH, Wiggins CL, PhD MSPH. Survival Differences Between Patients With Scalp or Neck Melanoma and Those With Melanoma of Other Sites in the Surveillance. Vol. 144, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Arch Dermatol. p. 515–21.
2.
Akhtar S, Bhat W, Magdum A. Surgical excision margins for melanoma in situ. Vol. 67, J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. p. 320–3.
3.
Baderca F, Vincze D, Balica N, Solovan C. Mucosal melanomas in the elderly: Challenging cases and review of the literature. Vol. 9, Clin Interv Aging. p. 929–37.
4.
Balch A. Multifactorial Analysis of Melanoma: Prognostic Histopathological Features Comparing Clark’s and Breslow’s Staging Methods. Vol. 188, Ann. Surg. p. 733–42.
5.
Balch CM, Buzaid AC, Soong SJ. Final version of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for cutaneous melanoma. Vol. 19, J Clin Oncol. p. 3635–48.
6.
Balch CM, Gershenwald JE, Soong SJ. Final version of 2009 AJCC melanoma staging and classification. Vol. 27, J Clin Oncol. p. 6199–206.
7.
Balch CM, Soong SJ, Gershenwald JE, Thompson JF, Reintgen DS, Cascinelli N. Prognostic factors analysis of 17,600 melanoma patients: validation of the American Joint Committee on Cancer melanoma staging system. Vol. 19, J Clin Oncol. p. 3622–34.
8.
Balch CM, Soong SJ, Gershenwald E, Thompson JF, Coit DG, Atkins MB, et al. Age as a prognostic factor in patients with localized melanoma and regional metastases. Vol. 20, Ann Surg Oncol. p. 3961–8.
9.
Ballantyne AJ. Malignant melanoma of the skin of the head and neck. An analysis of 405 cases. Vol. 120, Am J Surg. p. 425–31.
10.
Barnhill RL, MC M. The histopathology of cutaneous malignant melanoma. Vol. 10, Semin Diagn Pathol. p. 47–75.
11.
Breslow A. Thickness, cross-sectional areas and depth of invasion in the prognosis of cutaneous melanoma. Vol. 172, Ann Surg. p. 902–8.
12.
Breslow A. Tumor Thickness, Level of Invasion And Node Dissection In Stage I Cutaneous Melanoma. Vol. 182, Ann. Surg.
13.
Breslow A, Cascinelli N, Esch EP, Morabito A. Stage I Melanoma of the limbs: assessment of prognosis by levels of invasion and maximum thickness. Vol. 64, Tumori. p. 273–84.
14.
Chao C, Martin RCG, Ross MI. Correlation between prognostic factors and increasing age in melanoma. Vol. 11, Ann Surg Oncol. p. 259–64.
15.
Chevalier V, Barbe C, Le Clainche A, Arnoult G, Bernard P, Hibon E. Comparison of anatomical locations of cutaneous melanoma in men and women: a population-based study in France. Vol. 171, Br J Dermatol. p. 595–601.
16.
WH C. The histogenesis and biologic behavior of primary human malignant melanomas of the skin. Vol. 29, Cancer Res. p. 705–27.
17.
Clark WH, Ainsworth AM, Bernardino EA. The Developmental Biology Of Primary Human Malignant Melanoma. Vol. 2, Semin Oncol.
18.
Clark WH, Elder DE, Horn M. The biologic forms of malignant melanoma. Vol. 17, Hum Pathol. p. 443–50.
19.
Clinical Practice Guidelines in Australia and New Zealand for the Management of Melanoma.
20.
Cohen MH, Ketcham AF, Felix EL. Prognostic Factors In Patients Undergoing Lymphadenectomy For Malignant Melanoma. Vol. 186, Ann Surg.
21.
Dummer R, Hauschild A, Guggenheim M, Keilholz U, Pentheroudakis G. ESMO Guidelines Working Group. Cutaneous melanoma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Vol. 23, Ann Oncol.
22.
Evaluation of factors associated with skin self-examination. Vol. 8, Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. p. 971–7.
23.
Ferlay J, Shin HR, Bray F, Forman D, Mathers C, Parkin DM. Estimates of worldwide burden of cancer in 2008: GLOBOCAN 2008. Vol. 127, Int J Cancer.
24.
Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Dikshit R, Eser S, Mathers C, Rebelo M. Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide: sources, methods and major patterns in GLOBOCAN 2012. Vol. 136, Int J Cancer.
25.
Filipović M, Filipović T, Mladenović J, Šulović N, Mijović M. Melanom glave i vrata - kliničke i patohistološke karakteristike. Vol. 4, Medicinski arhiv Kosova i Metohije. p. 50–5.
26.
Fitzpatrick TB. The validity and practicality of sun-reactive skin types I through VI. Vol. 124, Arch Dermatol. p. 869–71.
27.
Garbe C, Buttner P, Bertz J, Burg G, d’Hoedt B, Drepper H, et al. Primary cutaneous melanoma. Identification of prognostic groups and estimation of individual prognosis for 5093 patients. Vol. 75, Cancer. p. 2484–91.
28.
Garbe C, Hauschild A, Volkenandt M, Schadendorf D, Stolz W, Reinhold U, et al. Evidence and interdisciplinary consensus-based German guidelines: surgical treatment and radiotherapy of melanoma. Vol. 18, Melanoma Res.
29.
Garbe C, Peris K, Hauschild A, Saiag P, Middleton M, Spatz A, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of melanoma: European consensus-based interdisciplinary guideline. Vol. 46, Eur J Cancer. p. 270–83.
30.
Garbe C, Peris K, Hauschild A, Saiag P, Middleton M, Spatz A, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of melanoma. European consensus-based interdisciplinary guideline-- Update 2012. Vol. 48, Eur J Cancer. p. 2375–90.
31.
Guy GP, Ekwueme DU, Tangka FK, Richardson LC. Melanoma Treatment Costs: A Systematic Review of the Literature, 1990–2011. Vol. 43, Am J Prev Med. p. 537–45.
32.
Gillgren P, Drzewiecki KT, Niin M, Gullestad HP, Hellborg H, Månsson-Brahme E, et al. 2-cm versus 4-cm surgical excision margins for primary cutaneous melanoma thicker than 2 mm: a randomised, multicentre trial. Vol. 378, Lancet. p. 1635–42.
33.
Hansen MG, McCarten AB. Tumor Thickness And Lymphocyte Infiltration In Malignant Melanoma Of The Head And Neck. Vol. 128, Am J Surg.
34.
Holmes EC, Moseley HS, Morton DL. A Rational Approach To The Surgical Management Of Melanoma. Vol. 186, Ann Surg.
35.
Stam-Posthuma JJ, Duinen C, Scheffer E, Vink J, Bergman W. Multiple primary melanomas. Vol. 44, J Am Acad Dermatol. p. 22–7.
36.
Jerant AF, Johnson JT, Sheridan CD, Caffrey TJ. Early detection and treatment of skin cancer. Vol. 62, Am Fam Physician. p. 375–6, 381–2.
37.
Kaddu S, Smolle J, Zenahlik P, Hofmann-Wellenhof R, Kerl H. Melanoma with benign melanocytic naevus components: reappraisal of clinicopathological features and prognosis. Vol. 140, Br J Dermatol. p. 468–76.
38.
Karakousis CP, Miller C, Peters LJ. Prognostic Factors in Malignant Melanoma: A Clinicopathologic Study of 122 Patients. Vol. 46, Cancer. p. 1718–25.
39.
Kelly JF, Davies VJ, McGregor JM. Malignant Melanoma: Clinical Features and Histological Variables Predictive of Outcome. Vol. 85, Br J Cancer. p. 668–73.
40.
Kashani-Sabet M, Miletic M, Martin A, Roy A, Gornbein J. Tumor thickness and nodal status in primary cutaneous melanoma. Vol. 95, Cancer. p. 1796–804.
41.
Kedar G, Gerum SV, Stewart L. Melanoma Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: Predicting Non-Sentinel Node Positivity in a High-Risk Population. Vol. 209, J Am Coll Surg. p. 627–33.
42.
Krown SE, Flaherty LE, Friedman RJ. Melanoma: an overview. Vol. 15, Cancer Treat Rev. p. 175–96.
43.
Lascano J, Cárdenas M, Haro A. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma: experience in a university hospital. Vol. 199, Am J Surg. p. 189–95.
44.
Liem M, Kretschmer L, Reimann H. The prognostic value of the mitotic index in melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Vol. 48, Eur J Cancer. p. 3194–201.
45.
Lin H, Liu P, Zang S. Risk Factors for Recurrence of Melanoma. Vol. 38, Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Clin Oncol. p. 2784–97.
46.
Lloyd R, Lee R, Garcia-Buitrago M. Melanoma In Situ and Sentinel Node Biopsy. Vol. 95, J Surg Oncol. p. 338–41.
47.
Lotem M, Amar A, Schachter J. Assessment of Tumor Thickness in Melanoma by Multiple Measurements. Vol. 64, J Surg Oncol. p. 298–301.
48.
Mackie RM. Skin Cancer Epidemiology: Melanoma and Nonmelanoma. Vol. 9, Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. p. 1201–7.
49.
Marghoob AA, Schmults CD, Esterlitz J. The role of dermoscopy in early diagnosis of melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Vol. 74, J Am Acad Dermatol. p. 1081–9.
50.
Miller AJ, MC M. Melanoma. Vol. 355, N Engl J Med. p. 51–65.
51.
Morrow M, Lippman ME, Skelly M. The clinical significance of tumor thickness and ulceration in melanoma: A critical review. Vol. 11, Ann Surg Oncol. p. 829–39.
52.
Moysich KB, Barone MA, McTiernan A. Melanoma risk in women and men: The importance of skin color and a family history of melanoma. Vol. 117, J Invest Dermatol. p. 270–4.
53.
Nice guidelines on the recognition and initial management of melanoma.
54.
Nowak M, Riemer J. The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the management of melanoma. Vol. 26, Melanoma Res. p. 438–45.
55.
Patel KP, Jagadeesan J, Marshall L. The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma. Vol. 28, Melanoma Res. p. 1–9.
56.
Pellacani G, Rinaldi C, Piccolo D. Dermoscopy and confocal microscopy for the diagnosis of melanoma: a review. Vol. 175, Br J Dermatol. p. 291–9.
57.
Qureshi AA, Tsao H, Aris M. Melanoma: An update on the management and treatment. Vol. 36, Cancer Treat Rev. p. 375–83.
58.
Ramesh V, Nardo P, Rinne M. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma: a comprehensive review. Vol. 95, J Surg Oncol. p. 138–46.
59.
Robinson J, Wu H, Ramaswamy M. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma: a comparative analysis of survival outcomes. Vol. 32, J Clin Oncol. p. 2921–8.
60.
Ross MI, Wachtel MS, Shaw HM. Long-term results of sentinel node biopsy for melanoma. Vol. 22, J Clin Oncol. p. 4926–34.
61.
Saad R, Bihani D, Khandekar M. The prognostic role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma: a meta-analysis. Vol. 110, Cancer. p. 357–64.
62.
Saad RS, Huebner P, Shulman N. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma: an evidence-based review. Vol. 105, J Surg Oncol. p. 24–30.
63.
Sober AJ. Melanoma Management: Current Perspectives and New Developments. Vol. 134, Arch Dermatol. p. 200–4.
64.
Spatz A, Tournier L, Lim W. The impact of lymphatic invasion on survival in melanoma patients: a systematic review. Vol. 51, Eur J Cancer. p. 132–40.
65.
Swetter SM, Marghoob AA, Dronca RS. Management of melanoma: current perspectives and new trends. Vol. 40, J Clin Oncol. p. 2315–29.
66.
Thompson JF, Guitera P, Scolyer RA. Sentinel node biopsy in melanoma: state-of-the-art and future directions. Vol. 126, J Surg Oncol. p. 435–49.
67.
Uren RF, Howman-Giles RB, Thompson JF. Sentinel node biopsy in melanoma: a review of current evidence and future perspectives. Vol. 23, Melanoma Res. p. 1–11.
68.
Weber J, Dummer R, Lebbé C. Management of melanoma: European consensus-based interdisciplinary guidelines. Vol. 58, Eur J Cancer. p. 123–51.
69.
Winer EP, Goss PE, Miller AB. Melanoma Treatment: Current Standards and Future Directions. Vol. 21, J Clin Oncol. p. 4752–61.
70.
Wolchok JD, Hoos A, O’Day S. Guidelines for the evaluation of immune therapy in oncology: a report from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer. Vol. 1, J Immunother Cancer. p. 1–10.
71.
Wolchok JD, Weber JS, Maio M. CheckMate 067: 5-year outcomes of nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus monotherapy in previously untreated melanoma. Vol. 39, J Clin Oncol. p. 3553–62.
72.
Zager JS, Scheri RP, Wang H. The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma management. Vol. 30, Melanoma Res. p. 189–98.
73.
Zembowicz A, MC M. Cutaneous melanoma: Current perspectives and recent advances. Vol. 52, J Am Acad Dermatol. p. 727–49.
74.
Zenouzi R, Lee JH, Huynh T. The impact of sentinel lymph node biopsy on melanoma outcomes. Vol. 41, Eur J Surg Oncol. p. 1024–31.
The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.