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...
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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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. |
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institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2077-0383 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:39:03Z |
publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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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 |
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