Clinicopathological analysis of 1571 cutaneous malignant melanomas in Valencia, Spain: factors related to tumour thickness.

Epidemiological studies on cutaneous melanoma in Mediterranean countries are scarce. Our aim was to perform a descriptive analysis of melanoma cases diagnosed in Valencia, Spain, and to evaluate the relationship between Breslow thickness and some clinical features. A total of 1571 patients with histologically confirmed cutaneous malignant melanoma diagnosed at the two main referral melanoma centres were evaluated retrospectively. For each patient the following clinical and pathological characteristics were selected: age, gender, anatomic site, histogenetic type, Breslow thickness, presence of ulceration, the stage, and symptoms such as bleeding, changes in size and colour, altered sensation…

Primary cutaneous melanoma in hidden sites is associated with thicker tumours — a study of 829 patients

The aim of this study was to determine if primary cutaneous melanomas in hidden anatomical sites were associated with thicker tumours. Retrospective medical data of 829 patients with melanomas diagnosed at our centre between January 1976 and July 1998 were recorded from our database. Three groups were defined according to the anatomical site of the primary melanoma: (1) visible areas (group 1: 493 patients); (2) visible areas only to the patients or to their partners in privacy (group 2: 281 patients); and (3) hidden areas (group 3: 55 patients). Univariate analysis indicated that patients with melanoma in hidden regions presented significantly thicker tumours (median for group 3: 2.25 vers…

The association between dermoscopic features and BRAF mutational status in cutaneous melanoma: Significance of the blue-white veil.

Background: The genetic basis of melanoma affects its clinicopathologic characteristics and increasingly influences its management. B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase gene (BRAF)-mutated melanoma may present with specific dermoscopic features. Objectives: To identify the dermoscopic features associated with BRAF mutation in cutaneous melanoma and to evaluate a model capable of predicting BRAF mutations on the basis of dermoscopic and clinicopathologic features that are easily accessible in normal clinical practice. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study was performed. A total of 93 cutaneous melanomas with dermoscopic images from 93 patients…

TERT promoter mutation subtypes in 20 in-situ melanomas

Atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with the fusion gene COL1A1-PDGFB

Desmoplastic melanoma may mimic a cutaneous peripheral nerve sheath tumor: Report of 3 challenging cases

Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) and cutaneous malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) reveal histological and immunohistochemical similarities, including S100 positivity and negative staining for conventional melanocytic markers. We present 3 cases of cutaneous S100-positive spindle cell tumors in elderly patients, in which first findings led to initial misdiagnoses as cutaneous MPNST and benign peripheral sheath nerve tumor (neurofibroma). The identification of adjacent atypical melanocytic hyperplasia in the overlying skin along with tumor cell proliferation, also in the superficial dermis, the neurotropic component and the absence of any relationship between the tumor and a major ner…

Correlation of histologic regression in primary melanoma with sentinel node status.

Importance The influence of regression on the status of the sentinel node (SN) is controversial. In many centers, the presence of regression in thin melanomas supports the performance of an SN biopsy. Objective To identify whether regression in primary melanoma has any influence on SN involvement. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective study of melanomas with a Breslow thickness greater than 0.75 mm and undergoing SN biopsy from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2010, at Instituto Valenciano de Oncologia, which receives melanoma patients from regional hospitals and dermatology practices. Only cases with paraffin blocks or histologic slides representative of the primary tumor an…