Scalp Melanoma: A High-Risk Subset of Cutaneous Head and Neck Melanomas with Distinctive Clinicopathological Features

Scalp melanomas (SM) have been previously associated with poor overall and melanoma-specific survival rates. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes of SM and non-scalp cutaneous head and neck melanoma (CHNM). An observational m...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rodolfo David Palacios-Diaz, Blanca de Unamuno-Bustos, Mónica Pozuelo-Ruiz, Enrico Giorgio Morales-Tedone, Rosa Ballester-Sánchez, Rafael Botella-Estrada
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-12-01
Series:Journal of Clinical Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/24/7643
_version_ 1797380560520216576
author Rodolfo David Palacios-Diaz
Blanca de Unamuno-Bustos
Mónica Pozuelo-Ruiz
Enrico Giorgio Morales-Tedone
Rosa Ballester-Sánchez
Rafael Botella-Estrada
author_facet Rodolfo David Palacios-Diaz
Blanca de Unamuno-Bustos
Mónica Pozuelo-Ruiz
Enrico Giorgio Morales-Tedone
Rosa Ballester-Sánchez
Rafael Botella-Estrada
author_sort Rodolfo David Palacios-Diaz
collection DOAJ
description Scalp melanomas (SM) have been previously associated with poor overall and melanoma-specific survival rates. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes of SM and non-scalp cutaneous head and neck melanoma (CHNM). An observational multi-center retrospective study was designed based on patients with CHNM followed in two tertiary care hospitals. A hundred and fifty-two patients had CHNM, of which 35 (23%) had SM. In comparison with non-scalp CHNM, SM were more frequently superficial spreading and nodular subtypes, had a thicker Breslow index median (2.1 mm vs. 0.85 mm), and a higher tumor mitotic rate (3 vs. 1 mitosis/mm<sup>2</sup>) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). SM had a higher risk of recurrence and a higher risk of melanoma-specific death (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, scalp location was the only prognostic factor for recurrence, and tumor mitotic rate was the only prognostic factor for melanoma-specific survival. We encourage routinely examining the scalp in all patients, especially those with chronic sun damage.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T20:39:03Z
format Article
id doaj.art-9a5e8a0215ab49be8bae04744e890563
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2077-0383
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T20:39:03Z
publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Journal of Clinical Medicine
spelling doaj.art-9a5e8a0215ab49be8bae04744e8905632023-12-22T14:17:18ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832023-12-011224764310.3390/jcm12247643Scalp Melanoma: A High-Risk Subset of Cutaneous Head and Neck Melanomas with Distinctive Clinicopathological FeaturesRodolfo David Palacios-Diaz0Blanca de Unamuno-Bustos1Mónica Pozuelo-Ruiz2Enrico Giorgio Morales-Tedone3Rosa Ballester-Sánchez4Rafael Botella-Estrada5Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, 46026 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, 46026 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, 46026 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Dermatology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Dermatology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, 46026 Valencia, SpainScalp melanomas (SM) have been previously associated with poor overall and melanoma-specific survival rates. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes of SM and non-scalp cutaneous head and neck melanoma (CHNM). An observational multi-center retrospective study was designed based on patients with CHNM followed in two tertiary care hospitals. A hundred and fifty-two patients had CHNM, of which 35 (23%) had SM. In comparison with non-scalp CHNM, SM were more frequently superficial spreading and nodular subtypes, had a thicker Breslow index median (2.1 mm vs. 0.85 mm), and a higher tumor mitotic rate (3 vs. 1 mitosis/mm<sup>2</sup>) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). SM had a higher risk of recurrence and a higher risk of melanoma-specific death (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, scalp location was the only prognostic factor for recurrence, and tumor mitotic rate was the only prognostic factor for melanoma-specific survival. We encourage routinely examining the scalp in all patients, especially those with chronic sun damage.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/24/7643skin cancermelanomaprognosissentinel lymph node biopsy
spellingShingle Rodolfo David Palacios-Diaz
Blanca de Unamuno-Bustos
Mónica Pozuelo-Ruiz
Enrico Giorgio Morales-Tedone
Rosa Ballester-Sánchez
Rafael Botella-Estrada
Scalp Melanoma: A High-Risk Subset of Cutaneous Head and Neck Melanomas with Distinctive Clinicopathological Features
Journal of Clinical Medicine
skin cancer
melanoma
prognosis
sentinel lymph node biopsy
title Scalp Melanoma: A High-Risk Subset of Cutaneous Head and Neck Melanomas with Distinctive Clinicopathological Features
title_full Scalp Melanoma: A High-Risk Subset of Cutaneous Head and Neck Melanomas with Distinctive Clinicopathological Features
title_fullStr Scalp Melanoma: A High-Risk Subset of Cutaneous Head and Neck Melanomas with Distinctive Clinicopathological Features
title_full_unstemmed Scalp Melanoma: A High-Risk Subset of Cutaneous Head and Neck Melanomas with Distinctive Clinicopathological Features
title_short Scalp Melanoma: A High-Risk Subset of Cutaneous Head and Neck Melanomas with Distinctive Clinicopathological Features
title_sort scalp melanoma a high risk subset of cutaneous head and neck melanomas with distinctive clinicopathological features
topic skin cancer
melanoma
prognosis
sentinel lymph node biopsy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/24/7643
work_keys_str_mv AT rodolfodavidpalaciosdiaz scalpmelanomaahighrisksubsetofcutaneousheadandneckmelanomaswithdistinctiveclinicopathologicalfeatures
AT blancadeunamunobustos scalpmelanomaahighrisksubsetofcutaneousheadandneckmelanomaswithdistinctiveclinicopathologicalfeatures
AT monicapozueloruiz scalpmelanomaahighrisksubsetofcutaneousheadandneckmelanomaswithdistinctiveclinicopathologicalfeatures
AT enricogiorgiomoralestedone scalpmelanomaahighrisksubsetofcutaneousheadandneckmelanomaswithdistinctiveclinicopathologicalfeatures
AT rosaballestersanchez scalpmelanomaahighrisksubsetofcutaneousheadandneckmelanomaswithdistinctiveclinicopathologicalfeatures
AT rafaelbotellaestrada scalpmelanomaahighrisksubsetofcutaneousheadandneckmelanomaswithdistinctiveclinicopathologicalfeatures