Age-related differences in the incidence and clinicopathological findings of malignant melanoma of the skin

Abstract

Introduction: In malignant melanoma of the skin, age has been found to be one of the factors associated with different clinical outcome and prognosis of disease. The purpose of our study was to investigate differences in the incidence and clinicopathological findings of cutaneous melanoma in relation to the age of the patients. Material and methods: Study group consisted of 116 primary invasive malignant melanomas of the skin from 116 subjects (57 men, 59 women) between 31 - 93 years of age. They were stratified into three separate age groups: group I (≤ 43 years, young age), group II (44 – 60 years, middle age) and group III (≥ 61 years, old age). Results: In group I, II and III, we confirmed 22 (19%), 45 (38.8%) and 49 (42.2%) individuals, respectively. As age increased, proportion of males, as well as melanomas located on the head and neck were rising. There was evident decline in the percentage of superficial spreading melanoma and conversely, increase in the percentage of nodular melanoma. Acral lentiginous melanoma and lentigo maligna melanoma was found only in patients over 60 years old. In general, advancing age was associated with lower prevalence of stage