7 research outputs found

    Prognostic subclassifications of T1 cutaneous melanomas based on ulceration, tumour thickness and Clark’s level of invasion : results of a population-based study from the Swedish Melanoma Register

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    Background  Survival and prognostic factors for thin melanomas have been studied relatively little in population-based settings. This patient group accounts for the majority of melanomas diagnosed in western countries today, and better prognostic information is needed. Objectives  The aim of this study was to use established prognostic factors such as ulceration, tumour thickness and Clark’s level of invasion for risk stratification of T1 cutaneous melanoma. Methods  From 1990 to 2008, the Swedish Melanoma Register included 97% of all melanomas diagnosed in Sweden. Altogether, 13 026 patients with T1 melanomas in clinical stage I were used for estimating melanoma-specific 10- and 15-year mortality rates. The Cox regression model was used for further survival analysis on 11 165 patients with complete data. Results  Ulceration, tumour thickness and Clark’s level of invasion all showed significant, independent, long-term prognostic information. By combining these factors the patients could be subdivided into three risk groups: a low-risk group (67·9% of T1 cases) with a 10-year melanoma-specific mortality rate of 1·5% (1·2–1·9%); an intermediate-risk group (28·6% of T1 cases) with a 10-year mortality rate of 6·1% (5·0–7·3%); and a high-risk group (3·5% of T1 cases) with a 10-year mortality rate of 15·6% (11·2–21·4%). The high- and intermediate-risk groups accounted for 66% of melanoma deaths within T1. Conclusions  Using a population-based melanoma register, and combining ulceration, tumour thickness and Clark’s level of invasion, three distinct prognostic subgroups were identified.Funding Agencies|regional cancer centre Southeast in Linkoping||</p

    Trends in cutaneous malignant melanoma in Sweden 1997-2011: Thinner tumours and improved survival among men

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    Background: Both patient survival and the proportion of patients diagnosed with thin cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) have been steadily rising in Sweden as in most western countries, though the rate of improvement in survival appears to have declined in Sweden at the end of last millennium. Objectives: To analyse the most recent trends in the distribution of tumour thickness (T-category) as well as CMM-specific survival in Swedish patients diagnosed 1997-2011. Methods: This nationwide population-based study included 30 590 patients registered in the Swedish Melanoma Register (SMR) and diagnosed with a first primary invasive CMM 1997-2011. The patients were followed through 2012 in the national Cause-of-Death Register. Results: Logistic and Cox regression analyses adjusting for age at diagnosis, tumour site, and health care region were carried out. The odds ratio for being diagnosed with thicker tumours was significantly reduced (P = 0·0008) and the CMM-specific survival significantly improved in men diagnosed 2007-2011 compared to men diagnosed 1997-2001 (hazard ratio=0·81; 95% CI 0·72-0·91, P = 0·0009) while the corresponding differences for women were not significant. Women were diagnosed with significantly thicker tumours during 2002-2006 and a tendency towards decreased survival was observed compared to those diagnosed earlier 1997-2001 and later 2007-2011. Conclusion: In Sweden, the CMMs of men are detected earlier over time and this seems to be followed by an improved CMM-specific survival for men. Women are still diagnosed with considerably thinner tumours and they experience a better survival than men
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