ABSTRACT

Background:

Malignant melanoma (MM) is a neoplasia, derived from melanocytes. This is the most aggressive cancer of skin. The incidence of melanoma is increasing last decades. Melanoma has a high cure rate in the early phases, but a worse prognosis in the late stages.

The aim of this study is to present an overview of malignant melanoma, frequency according to age and sex, clinico-morphologic correlation and reporting of Breslow thickness and Clark level in histopathologic examinations.

Material and Methods:

This was a retrospective study. We have analised all histopathologic datas in the Department of Pathology, in The University Hospital Center ” Mother Teresa ” for years 2005 - 2009 and have compared them, with the period 1985 - 1989. Chi square test and dftest were used.

Results:

There were 84 cases of MM for 2005-2009 :(58.3 % male and 41.7 % female. The distribution according to the site was: 71.4 % cutaneous, 16.6 % cerebral (metastases) and 12% ocular .The mean age of melanoma for the above period is 50 years . Breslow thickness was reported in only 8.3% of the cutaneous melanoma. Clark level was reported in 69 % of them. Clinicopathological correlation is 41.7 %.

For period of time 1985-1989 resulted 35 cases of MM : 48.6 % males and 51.4 % females.

Distribution according to the site was : 51.5 % ( n =18 ) cutaneous, 42.8 % ( n=15 ) ocular and 5.7 % ( n=2) cerebral metastasis.

The mean age was 43 years. Clark level and Breslow thekness was done in none of the biopsy. Clinicopathological correlation was 51.5%.

Conclusion:

Malignant melanoma is confirmed only by histopathologic examination. Malignant melanoma is a growing pathology (p<0.0009).

The age of affecting melanoma is also increased. Breslow thickness and Clark level should be done in every biopsy of melanoma, because they serve also as prognostic factors.