Abstract
We have treated 40 cases of malignant melanoma during the past 11 years from 1993 to 2003 in our department. The incidence of melanoma patients per year was 3.6, and the average age was 57.3 years. The initial lesion appeared on the lower extremities in the majority of the cases, and the sole represented the most prevalent site (11 of the 40 patients; 27.5%) . Regarding the clinical type, acral lentiginous melanoma was predominant, accounting for 18 patients (45.0%). The 2002 UICC classification of the 40 patients showed 42.5% in stage I, 20.0% in stage II, 30.0% in stage III, and 7.5% in stage IV. Five-year survival rates of stages I, II, III and IV were 92.9%, 66.7%, 60.0%, 0%, respectively. Patients with nodular melanoma, and melanoma located on the trunk or BANS (upper back, posterolateral upper arm, posterior and lateral neck, posterior scalp) area had a poorer prognosis. [Skin Cancer (Japan) 2005; 20: 27-32]
