A Clinical and Histopathologic Study of 35 Cases with Malignant Melanoma

Kim, Yoon Dong; Kim, Kyung Ho; Suhr, Ki Beom; Lee, Jeung Hoon; Park, Jang Kyu

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Clinical features of malignant melanoma (MM) are known to be different according to racial and environmental factors. Recently, there have been reports of an increase of MM.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the incidence of tumors, age and sex distribution, tumor sites, and histopathological patterns.
METHODS
Clinical records were reviewed for 35 cases of MM with a histologically confirmed diagnosis for patients who visited the Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University Hospital during the 20 years from 1980 to 1999. Histopathologic and clinical characteristics were also reviewed.
RESULTS
A total of 35 malignant melanoma cases diagnosed at Chungnam National University Hospital during the past 20 years from 1980 to 1999 were included for the clinico-histopathologic study. The ratio of man to woman with MM was 1 : 1.33 with a mean age of 55 years. Acral lentigenous melanoma was the most common clinico-histopathologic pattern.
CONCLUSION
The incidence of MM has increased during the past 20 years. The common site, and histopathologic patterns show a significant difference from Caucasians.