Prevalence Of Melanoma Research Articles

Multiple primary melanoma in association with other personal and family history of cancers.

e21559 Background: Patients (PTs) with cutaneous melanoma are at increased risk of developing second primary melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The primary aim of this study was to define the association between MPM and personal history of non-melanoma skin cancers and other non-skin cancers. The secondary aim was to evaluate the association between MPM and the presence of other cancers among first-degree relatives (FDRs). Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control study including cases with MPM and controls with single primary melanoma (SPM) from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Melanoma Center Biological Sample and Nevus Bank. The proportions and percentages of non-melanoma skin cancer, other non-skin cancer, 1st degree family history of melanoma, and 1st degree family history of other non-melanoma cancers were calculated separately for MPM and SPM groups. Fisher’s exact tests were performed to test whether MPM was associated with these variables. For each significant variable, a multivariable logistic regression model was used to test its association with MPM after adjusting for age, gender, melanoma staging, and smoking status. Results: In total, 311 PTs (39.2% men; median age at initial diagnosis 51years) were enrolled, including 194 with SPM (38.6%; 51) and 117 with MPM (39.8%; 48). 28 (9%) of PTs had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and 63 (20%) had basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The most common non-skin cancers in the whole cohort were prostate (4.8%), breast (3.8%), hematological (1.9%), colorectal (1.3%), and cervical cancers (1.3%). FDR history of melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer, and other cancers were positive in 15.4%, 7.1% and 46.3% PTs, respectively. The most common non-skin cancers in FDRs were breast, prostate, lung, colorectal and hematological malignancies. In comparison to PTs with SPM, PTs with MPM were more likely to have SCC (14.5% vs 5.7%, p=0.013) but not BCC and other non-skin cancers. FDRs of PTs with MPM had higher prevalence of melanoma (23.1% vs 10.8%, p=0.005), prostate cancer (31.9% vs 5.3%, p=0.0002) but not other non-melanoma skin and non-skin cancers. In multivariate analysis the association remained significant between MPM and SCC (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1-6.6, p=0.032), FDR history of melanoma (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.03-4.1, p=0.042), and FDR history of prostate cancer (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.6-20.3, p=0.008). Conclusions: MPM is associated with higher prevalence of SCC and FDR history of melanoma and prostate cancer, but not BCC and other non-melanoma cancers in comparison to SPM.

United States burden of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer from 1990 to 2019

Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. To evaluate the burden of skin cancer in the US from 1990 to 2019. Age-standardized incidence, prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALY), and mortality rates from skin cancer in the US were evaluated from the Global Burden of Disease 2019. Incidence, prevalence, DALY, and mortality rates for melanoma per 100,000 persons in 2019 were 17.0, 138, 64.8, and 2.2, respectively; for squamous cell carcinoma, rates were 262, 314, 26.6, and 0.8, respectively; and for basal cell carcinoma, rates were 525, 51.2, 0.2, and zero, respectively. Incidence and prevalence rates of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) have increased since 1990, while mortality rates have remained fairly stable. Males have had higher incidence, prevalence, DALY, and mortality rates from melanoma and NMSC every year since 1990. Incidence and prevalence of melanoma was relatively higher in the northern half of the US than in the southern half. Global Burden of Disease is derived from estimation and mathematical modeling. Health care professionals can utilize differences and trends noted in this study to guide allocation of resources to reduce incidence and morbidity from skin cancer.

A Malignant Melanoma of the Penile : A Very Rare Case Report and Literature Review

Background: Malignant melanoma of the penis is very rare, accounting for approximately 1.4% of all primary penile carcinomas. With a small prevalence of penile melanoma, there is lack of data about quality of the therapy. The primary treatment of melanoma of the penile is surgical, although there is a lack of consensus regarding the extent of treatment that is indicated.
 Case Report: A 60-year-old Caucasian man came to Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Dr. Kariadi General Hospital Semarang with chief complaint painless and fast growing lesions on his penile. His general condition was fine, and has a normal vital signs. On the physical examination of penile region, there were found lesions on the ventral of the glans and penile foreskin and covered with blood and pus, with bilateral inguinal lymph nodes and lung metastasis from Multi Slice Computed Tomography. We already performed partial penectomy and bilateral inguinal lymph nodes dissection with histopathological results a malignant melanoma Clark IV. The final stage of penile melanoma was pT2N1M1. We follow-up the patient until 1 year after procedure, and there wasn’t any recurrence.
 Conclusion: Malignant melanoma of the penis is rare. Penile melanoma is highly treatable with surgical excision in its early stages because of resistant to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Delay in diagnosed and surgical treatment can lead to an adverse prognosis. The anamnesis, physical examination, and imaging studies must be done appropriately to improve the survival.

Melanoma is associated with an increased risk of bullous pemphigoid: a large population-based longitudinal study

The association between bullous pemphigoid (BP) and melanoma is yet to be investigated. We aimed to assess assess the bidirectional association between BP and melanoma and to delineate the epidemiological features of patients with both diagnoses. A population-based cohort study was performed comparing BP patients (n = 3924) with age-, sex- and ethnicity-matched control subjects (n = 19,280) with regard to incident cases of melanoma. A case–control design was additionally adopted to estimate the risk of BP in individuals with a preexisting diagnosis of melanoma. The prevalence of preexisting melanoma was higher in patients with BP than in control subjects (1.5% vs. 1.0%, respectively; P = 0.004). A history of melanoma confers a 50% increase in the risk of subsequent BP (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.14–2.06). This risk was higher among males (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.09–2.54) and individuals older than 80 years (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.11–2.38), and persisted after adjustment for multiple putative confounders including PD-1/PDL-1 antagonists (adjusted OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.14–2.06). Conversely, the risk of melanoma among patients with BP was slightly elevated, but did not reach the level of statistical significance (adjusted HR 1.13; 95% CI 0.73–1.74). Patients with a dual diagnosis of BP and melanoma were older at the onset of BP and had lower body mass index. A history of melanoma is associated with a 50% increase in the incidence of subsequent BP. Physicians managing patients with both conditions should be aware of this association. Further research is warranted to reveal the underlying mechanism of these findings.

The global burden of skin cancer: A longitudinal analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 1990–2017

BackgroundDespite efforts toward the earlier detection and prevention of skin cancer, the prevalence of skin cancers continues to increase. Identifying trends in skin cancer burdens among populations can lead to impactful and sustainable interventions.MethodsWe assessed the global trends in skin cancer from 1990 to 2017 in 195 countries worldwide through the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2017 database.ResultsThe rate of change in skin cancers between 1990 to 2017 varied among countries. Squamous cell carcinomas increased by 310% during this time, the highest among any neoplasm tracked by the GBD. Men experienced greater age-specific prevalence rates of keratinocyte carcinoma across all ages (P < .05). Women had a greater prevalence of melanoma until approximately age 50 years, after which the trend reversed until age 85 years. Men experienced greater age-specific death rates across all ages. The disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of melanoma and keratinocyte carcinoma increased exponentially with age (P < .05).ConclusionThe incidence, prevalence, and DALYs of skin cancers are increasing disproportionately among different demographic groups. As a worldwide epidemiological assessment, the GBD 2017 provides frequently updated measures of the skin cancer burden, which may help to direct resources and allocate funding to close the gap in global skin cancer disparities.

Prevalence of Choroidal Melanoma in a Hill Population of Northern India

Aim: To assess prevalence and presentation of choroidal melanoma in a hill population of northern India along with its demographics, features, diagnostics, treatment and outcome with comparison to western population. Method: Choroidal melanoma constitutes most common intraocular malignancy with early appearance in Asian population. This is the 1^st case series from a hill state of Uttarakhand, northern India involving medium to large size tumour with extraocular extension. In this retrospective study we assessed the prevalence, clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, treatment plan, disease outcome, prognosis with survival and mortality. The study was carried out in time duration from February 2019- March 2021. Results: Data shows the presence of five patients, four male and 1 female in age range of 47-77 years, with median age at 62 years. Patient presented with visual equity in range of 6/18 to perception of light in time range of six months to 2 years. Fundus examination revealed presence of medium to large size choroidal mass with surface pigmentation and serous detachment. Neovascular glaucoma was present in three patients. Three patients underwent brachytherapy with I 125 and Ru 106, two cases responded well to therapy, one case presented with recurrence of tumour and neovascular glaucoma, underwent preenucleation radiation with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and the eye was lost following enucleation. Among five patients three underwent enucleation and thereafter were referred to surgical oncology for enlarged regional and cervical chain of lymph nodes for suspected metastasis. Histopathology via fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or biopsy from whole specimen showed two cases of spindle cell, one of mixed cell variety and two of epitheloid cell type. Two cases of eitheloid cell type and one of spindle cell type needed EBRT as there was extraocular extension. All cases with enucleation were adviced an ocular implant. A diligent post treatment follow was maintained to look out for local recurrence and distant metastasis. Conclusion: Hill states have poor accessibility to healthcare. Our study shows existence of choroidal melanoma may be much larger than anticipated and cases could have been missed, hence making the need for dilated fundus examination a requirement and necessity. Histopathology, serology and imaging are much needed tools for diagnosis and staging of disease along with treatment of choroidal melanoma eventually indicating prognosis, survival and mortality. Treatment modalities as brachytherapy and EBRT are more frequently being used, indicating a shift in treatment more towards organ salvaging and preservation so as to maintain best visual function.

Genomic Atypia to Enrich Melanoma Positivity in Biopsied Lesions: Gene Expression and Pathology Findings From a Large U.S. Registry Study

Importance: Melanoma is diagnosed in approximately 200,000 people within the US each year and is responsible for more than 6,850 deaths. Currently, clinical suspicion guides biopsy decisions and melanoma is confirmed in approximately 4% of biopsied lesions. A non-invasive two-gene expression test (2-GEP) was shown to enhance the physical exam by evaluating genomic atypia to guide biopsy decisions. This study examines the corresponding histopathology of real-world 2-GEP-positive cases. Methods: Cutaneous lesions suspicious for melanoma (n=3,418) were 2-GEP tested by 90 licensed clinicians in real-world practice. 2-GEP-positive lesions (genomically atypical as indicated by the detection of LINC and/or PRAME) were biopsied in 316 out of 324 (97.5%) cases and 313 pathology reports were available for analysis. Results: Biopsied 2-GEP-positive lesions were separated into diagnostic subgroups based on corresponding pathology reports. The prevalence of melanoma in biopsies of 2-GEP-positive lesions was 18.7%. Gene expression of both LINC and PRAME was present in ever-increasing percentages of melanocytic lesions as pathology reports demonstrated increasing levels of atypia. Notably, 47.5% of the histopathologically-confirmed melanomas demonstrated this double positive genomic signature while 23.7% were single-positive for LINC and 28.8% were single-positive for PRAME. Discussion: These data show that biopsied 2-GEP-positive lesions are enriched almost five-fold for advanced histopathologic features compared to those biopsied based solely on visual assessment criteria. The close correlation between genomic atypia and atypical pathology should be considered when planning treatment of a 2-GEP-positive lesion. Consideration of genomic atypia may be a superior approach to guide biopsy decisions and manage pigmented lesions.

Does acral lentiginous melanoma subtype account for differences in patterns of care in Black patients?

BackgroundMelanoma-specific outcomes for Black patients are worse when compared to non-Hispanic white (NHW) patients. We sought to evaluate whether acral lentiginous melanoma, seen more commonly in Black patients, was associated with racial disparities in outcomes MethodsThe National Cancer Database was analyzed for major subtypes of stage I-IV melanoma diagnosed from 2004 to 2016. The association between Black race and (Siegel et al., Jan) 1 acral melanoma diagnosis and (Bradford et al., Apr) 2 receipt of major amputation for surgical management of melanoma was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. Results251,864 patients were included (1453 Black). Black patients had increased odds of acral melanoma (odds ratio [OR] = 27.6, 95% CI]: 24.4, 31.2) compared to NHW patients. Black patients still had higher odds ratios of major amputation across all stages after adjusting for acral histology and other potential confounders ConclusionsIncreased prevalence of acral melanoma in Black patients does not fully account for increased receipt of major amputation.

How to Face Skin Cancer with Nanomaterials: A Review

Nanotechnology is one of the most attractive disciplines ranging from materials science to biomedicine. It is one of the most prominent areas of research for targeting skin melanoma and other diseases. The application of nanomaterials in the field of skin has increased interest in topical targeting to increase the permeation and retention and reduce its side effects. Different types of nanomaterials have been used for the application of skin diseases and cancer. These nanomaterials include carbon-nanotubes, liposomes, nanoemulsion, nano micelles, etc. In the United States and globally, the prevalence of melanoma has had a growing rise throughout the last 50 years. This review seeks to discuss various types of treatment and diagnosis of early-stage skin cancer. There are many skin cancer biomarkers for early detection of this type of cancer. Diagnosis of skin cancer forms a way of traditional approaches, and their weaknesses are discussed. Electrochemical and optical biosensors for the diagnosis and monitoring of skin cancer are also was described. After all, some issues should be addressed and overcome regarding the competition of new techniques in cost and convenience of use.

Uveal Melanoma in BAP1 Tumor Predisposition Syndrome: Estimation of Risk

To estimate point prevalence of uveal melanoma in the patients with germline BAP1 pathogenic variant. Cohort study with risk assessment using Bayesian analysis. The point prevalence estimate was obtained by Bayes's rule of reverse conditional probabilities. The probability of uveal melanoma given that BAP1 mutation exists was derived from the prevalence of uveal melanoma, prevalence of germline BAP1 pathogenic variants, and the probability of germline BAP1 pathogenic variant given that uveal melanoma is present. Confidence intervals (CIs) for each variable were calculated as the mean of Bernoulli random variables and for the risk estimate, by the delta method. The age at diagnosis and the gender of the uveal melanoma patients with BAP1 germline pathogenic variants obtained from previous publications or from authors' unpublished cohort was compared with those in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The point prevalence of uveal melanoma in patients with the germline BAP1 pathogenic variants in the US population was estimated to be 2.8% (95% CI, 0.88%-4.81%). In the SEER database, the median age at diagnosis of uveal melanomas was 63 (range 3-99 years) with a male-to-female ratio of 1.01:1. In comparison, uveal melanoma cases with BAP1 germline pathogenic variants from the US population (n= 27) had a median age at diagnosis of 50.5 years (range 16-71). Quantification of the risk of developing uveal melanoma can enhance counseling regarding surveillance in patients with germline BAP1 pathogenic variant.

Epidemiology of uveal melanoma in Brazil

PurposeTo report the prevalence of uveal melanoma in a Hospital database in Brazil over the period of 16 years (2000 to 2016).DesignDescriptive epidemiological study evaluating the Brazilian Hospital Based Cancer Registries.Participants/methodsUveal melanomas were identified based on ICD-O-3 codes C69.3 [choroid], C69.4 [ciliary body and iris], and C69.2 [retina]) derived from the Integrator Registry database. Kolmogorov–Smirnov Test was used for evaluation of normality of data, t-test and Chi square were used for categorical and continuous variables respectively using SPSS Software.Main outcome measuresAge, sex, education, regional distribution, clinical staging at the diagnosis, time from diagnosis to treatment (≤ 60 days versus > 60 days) and first-course therapy (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a combination of such).ResultsThere were 2166 cases of uveal melanoma representing 5.4% of all cases of melanoma. Histological confirmation of uveal melanoma was available in all cases. Higher prevalence of 1139 cases (52.6%) in women than 1027 cases (47.4%) in men was observed. Age distribution revealed 1411 cases (65.1%) in the group between 41 and 69 years old. A total of 429 (19.8%) patients were classified as initial disease and 334 (15.4%) as advanced (regional or distant metastases). Staging as initial disease was more frequent (113–24.8%) in patients with > 8 school years than in patients with < 8 school years (179–17.6%) reflecting disparities in healthcare access between those two populations. No difference was noticed in terms of diagnosis, staging and treatment after the Brazilian “60 days law” (Federal Law 12.732/12) came into effect in 2013 regulating the maximum period that a patient with cancer has to wait until start the treatment.ConclusionEpidemiological data is critical for planning early treatment strategies and allocating medical resources. This study intended to understand the characteristics of uveal melanoma in Brazil.

Cutaneous Melanoma Arising in Congenital Melanocytic Nevus: A Retrospective Observational Study

Background: Congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) are benign proliferations of melanocytes usually present at birth. The magnitude of the melanoma risk for CMN is controversial, generating an ongoing debate on the best approach to manage these lesions. Objective: To perform a retrospective, observational study with the aim to evaluate the prevalence of CMN-associated melanomas in tertiary referral centers, as well as the eventual correlation between clinical, dermoscopic, and histological features of CMN-associated melanomas. Methods: A single-center retrospective observational study was performed on all clinical and dermoscopic images of histologically confirmed melanomas arising on CMN over a 14-year period (January 2005 to March 2019). Results:Our database included 2,159 melanomas in the considered period. Of those, 27 (1.3%) were CMN-associated melanomas. The mean age of patients with CMN-associated melanoma was 33 years (range, 11–70 years). The mean diameter of CMN-associated melanoma was 18 mm (range, 6 mm to 20 cm), and 56% were located on the back. Twenty-one (77.8%) of CMN-associated melanomas arose on small CMN (<1.5 cm), 5 (18.5%) on medium-sized CMN (1.5–19.9 cm), and 1 (3.7%) on a large/giant type (≥20 cm). The majority of CMN-associated melanomas (63%) exhibited a globular dermoscopic pattern in their benign part, while a blue-white veil and irregular blotches were the most frequent dermoscopic features in the malignant part. About three quarters of melanomas occupied 10–50% of the nevus surface. Breslow thickness was higher in melanomas involving less than 10% of nevus surface (mean thickness, 1 mm) than in those affecting 10–50 and >50% of the nevus surface (0.8 and 0.7 mm, respectively). Conclusions: In our series, small CMN was the most frequent type of CMN-associated melanoma. Although the risk of melanoma is increasing by the increasing size of CMN, our finding is definitely related to the much higher prevalence of small CMN in the general population as compared to the prevalence of intermediate-sized and large CMN. Limitations: Small sample size, single-center experience, retrospective design.

Patterns of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acid Dietary Intake and Melanoma Thickness at Diagnosis.

Experimental evidence suggests that dietary intakes of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids have divergent effects on melanoma growth, but epidemiologic evidence on their combined effect is lacking. In 634 Australian patients with primary melanoma, we assessed prediagnosis consumption of 39 food groups by food frequency questionnaires completed within 2 months of diagnosis. We derived, by reduced rank regression, dietary patterns that explained variability in selected omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid intakes. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between tertiles of dietary patterns and melanoma thickness >2 mm versus ≤2 mm were estimated using Poisson regression. Overall omega-3 fatty acid intakes were low. Two major fatty acid dietary patterns were identified: "meat, fish, and fat," positively correlated with intakes of all fatty acids; and "fish, low-meat, and low-fat," positively correlated with long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake, and inversely with medium-chain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid intakes. Prevalence of thick melanomas was significantly higher in those in the highest compared with lowest tertile of the "meat, fish, and fat" pattern (PR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.01-1.94), especially those with serious comorbidity (PR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.15-2.92) or a family history (PR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.00-5.35). The "fish, low-meat, and low-fat" pattern was not associated with melanoma thickness. People with high meat, fish, and fat intakes, who thus consumed relatively high levels of omega-3 and high omega-6 fatty acid intakes, are more likely to be diagnosed with thick than thin melanomas. High omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid intakes may contribute to patients' presentation with thick melanomas.

Clinical and molecular features of subungual melanomas are site-specific and distinct from acral melanomas.

Subungual melanomas (SUM) arise beneath the nails of the hands and feet, and account for 0.7-3.5% of all malignant melanomas. Most studies include SUM in the category of acral melanoma, but understanding the specific features of SUM is critical for improving patient care. In this study, we performed a site-specific comparison of the clinical and molecular features between 54 cases of SUM and 78 cases of nonsubungual acral melanoma. Compared to patients with acral melanoma, patients with SUM were younger at diagnosis, had a higher prevalence of primary melanomas on the hand, and had more frequent reports of previous trauma at the tumor site. SUM was deeper than acral melanoma at diagnosis, which correlated with an increased frequency of metastases. Analysis of common melanoma driver genes revealed KIT and KRAS mutations were predominantly found in SUM, whereas BRAF and NRAS mutations occurred almost exclusively in acral melanoma. We also discovered molecular differences in the cell cycle pathway, where CDK4/CCND1 amplifications were more frequent in SUM and CDKN2A/B loss occurred mostly in acral melanoma, and in the PI3K/mTOR pathway, where RICTOR amplification and TSC1 K587R mutations were exclusively in SUM and PTEN loss and AKT1 mutations were exclusively in acral melanoma. Comparison of hand versus foot tumors revealed more frequent ulceration of SUM foot tumors, which correlated with more distal metastases and poorer overall survival. In summary, we find SUM are both clinically and molecularly distinct from acral melanoma, and our data suggest KIT, CDK4/6, and mTOR inhibitors may be particularly relevant and effective treatments for patients with SUM.

Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer among patients who attended at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 2007 - 2018

Objectives:To assess the prevalence of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer for patients attended King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We are also assessing the most common category of skin cancer to be encountered among those patients.Methods:The authors conducted a retrospective study including all patients (Saudi and non-Saudi) who attended King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) at the period of (2007-2018). Data were collected from archives of Pathology Department at KKUH and categorized into: melanoma skin cancer (MSC), non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), which included: basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), pre-neoplastic lesions, and non-neoplastic skin lesions.Results:A total of 111 patients were reported to have skin cancer out of 9828 cases, which had other skin pathology. Majority of cases were basal cell carcinoma with a total number of 76 (68.5%) of all cases. 18 patients (16.2%) were diagnosed with MSC. The remaining 17 patients (15.3%) were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma.Conclusion:Skin cancer prevalence and incidence is increasing worldwide. In our study, BCC was the most common type of skin cancer to be reported in our institute, which is similar to the majority of other international studies.

Trends in pediatric skin cancer.

To inform pediatric providers of the clinical characteristics, underlying genetic drivers, and therapeutic options for skin cancer arising in childhood and adolescence. The incidence of melanoma in pediatric patients has been declining in the past decades. Pediatric-specific diagnostic criteria should be utilized when assessing lesions concerning for melanoma to better account for the different presentations seen in pediatric disease compared with adults, such as an increased prevalence of amelanotic melanoma or frequent mimic of benign pediatric lesions. Pediatric melanoma often presents with a higher histopathologic stage and a higher Breslow depth as compared with adult melanoma. Pediatric nonmelanoma skin cancer including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are associated with genetic conditions and immunosuppression, both iatrogenic and inherited. Melanoma in pediatric patients often presents differently from conventional adult melanoma, including Spitz melanoma and melanoma associated with congenital melanocytic nevi. Pediatric patients with nonmelanoma skin cancers should be evaluated for predisposing risk factors. More research on therapeutic options for pediatric skin cancer is vital to understanding the tolerance and response of our pediatric patients to therapies that are more frequently utilized in adult disease.

Shorter survival and later stage at diagnosis among unmarried patients with cutaneous melanoma: A US national and tertiary care center study

Addressingrisk factors of delayed melanoma detection minimizes disparities in outcome. To elucidate the significance of marital status in melanoma outcomes across anatomic sites. Retrospective cohort study of 73,558 patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program and 2992 patients at Johns Hopkins University. Patients were stratified by marital status, anatomic site, age, and sex. Endpoints were prevalence of advanced melanoma (stages III or IV) and survival. In the SEER cohort, single patients were more likely than married patients to present in stages III or IV among both men (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-1.53) and women (PR, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-1.39). This trend was consistent across all anatomic sites and in all age groups, particularly in those 18 to 68years old. Overall and cancer-specific survival times were shorter in unmarried patients. Similarly, at Johns Hopkins, single patients had increased prevalence of advanced melanoma (PR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.21-1.94) and experienced shorter overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.15-1.99). The anatomic sites were not very specific, and this was a retrospective study. Unmarried patients, especially men and those younger than 68years, are diagnosed at more advanced stages, even in readily visible sites such as the face. They also experience worse survival independent of stage.

Melanoma Risk is Increased in Patients with Mycosis Fungoides Compared with Patients with Psoriasis and the General Population.

Patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) are thought to be at increased risk of melanoma. However, studies addressing surveillance-bias and treatments as a possible confounder are lacking. This retrospective study compared the prevalence and risk of melanoma between 982 patients with MF, and 3,165 patients with psoriasis attending tertiary cutaneous-lymphoma/psoriasis clinics during 2009 to 2018. Melanoma was diagnosed in 47 patients with MF (4.8%; 43 early stage) and in 23 patients with psoriasis (0.7%) (odds ratio 6.6, p < 0.0001). In 60% of patients, MF/psoriasis preceded melanoma diagnosis. Hazard ratio (HR) for a subsequent melanoma in MF vs psoriasis was 6.3 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 3.4–11.7, p < 0.0001). Compared with the general population, melanoma standardized incidence ratios were 17.5 in patients with MF (95% CI 11.0–23.9, p < 0.0001), and 2.2 (95% CI 0.6–3.8, p = 0.148) in patients with psoriasis. Narrow-band ultraviolet B was not a contributory factor (HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.62–2.14, p = 0.66). These findings add evidence that patients with MF have a significantly higher risk of melanoma, not only compared with the general population, but also compared with patients with psoriasis. This comorbidity may be inherent to MF.

Metastatic Cutaneous Melanoma: A Rare Entity with a Unique Presentation

The occurrence of cutaneous infiltration by malignancies has been accounted to 0.7 %- 9 % of patients suffering with malignant neoplasm and are generally thought to be a late consequence of most neoplasms.And, the prevalence of malignant melanoma as a primary tumor in one published study was 59 out of 381 patients. We herein report an unusual case of a patient who presented with multiple nodules of varying sizes over the body, which later revealed to be malignant melanoma; both on cytopathology and histopathology examination. As this is a rare, unusual condition in our setting, frequent and timely case reporting is to be done that will ensure the better management and outcome of the disease

Burden of melanoma in China, 1990-2017: Findings from the 2017 global burden of disease study.

Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer, and a worldwide problem with increasing incidence. Little is known about the burden of melanoma in the Chinese population. We evaluated temporal trends and geographic variation in melanoma-associated burden, to narrow an important knowledge gap concerning the consequences of this disorder across time, provinces in China. After the general analytic strategy used in the 2017 Global Burden of Disease study, we analyzed the incidence, mortality, prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of melanoma, by age, sex and geography from 1990 to 2017. Levels in melanoma burden were assessed for 33 province-level administrative units between 1990 and 2017. We used joinpoint regression analysis to estimate the slope of incidence and mortality trends. The age-standardized incidence rate of melanoma was 0.9 per 100,000 in 2017, with a 110.3% rise compared to 1990. Although the age-standardized DALYs rate (per 100,000) decreased from 9.1 in 1990 to 7.6 in 2017, it showed an upward trend from 2007 to 2017. The DALYs rate increased steadily with age for females while increased and peaked at 55-59 years for males. The incidence of melanoma was higher in the clustered eastern provinces than western provinces, while the DALYs showed a pattern in opposite direction. In China, there has been a substantial increase in the burden of melanoma over the last decade, representing an ongoing challenge in Chinese population. More targeted strategies should be developed for elderly population, especially for females, to reduce the melanoma burden throughout China, particularly the western provinces.