Significant Risk Factors For Survival Research Articles

Diabetes mellitus is associated with high early-mortality and poor prognosis in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia

The incidence of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is highest among the elderly, and thus it is frequently associated with co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus (DM). However, there have been few reports on the impact of these co-morbidities on survival in patients with AIHA. Therefore, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 53 consecutive AIHA patients and assessed the impact of DM on survival. Eighteen of the 53 patients had DM. The estimated 4-year overall survival (4y-OS) for all patients was 84·9%. Infection was the most frequent cause of death, and fatal infections were exclusively observed in patients with DM. The deaths in DM patients occurred frequently within 1 year, to give significantly poor survival (4y-OS; 69·3% versus 93·6%, P=0·0064). The presence of DM was identified as the only significant risk factor for survival. A large prospective investigation is warranted to assess the impact of co-morbidities on survival in patients with AIHA.

Should we perform heart retransplantation in early graft failure?

Cardiac retransplantation represents the gold standard treatment for a failing cardiac graft but the decision to offer the patient a second chance is often made difficult by both lack of donors and the ethical issues involved. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether retransplantation is a reasonable option in case of early graft failure. Between November 1985 and June 2008, 922 patients underwent cardiac transplantation at our Institution. Of these, 37 patients (4%) underwent cardiac retransplantation for cardiac failure resulting from early graft failure (n = 11) or late graft failure (acute rejection: n = 2, transplant-related coronary artery disease: n = 24). Survival at 1, 5 and 10 years of patients with retransplantation was 59%, 50% and 40% respectively. An interval between the first and the second transplantation of less than (n = 11, all in early graft failure) or more than (n = 26) 1 month was associated with a 1-year survival of 27% and 73%, and a 5-year survival of 27% and 65% respectively (P = 0.01). The long-term outcome of cardiac retransplantation is comparable with that of primary transplantation only in patients with transplant-related coronary artery disease. Early graft failure is a significant risk factor for survival after cardiac retransplantation and should be considered as an exclusion criteria.

Retrospective Analysis of Histopathologic Prognostic Factors After Hepatectomy for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

The aim of this study was to investigate histopathologic prognostic factors in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) whose tumors were resected to determine the optimal surgical strategies. One hundred and two ICC patients who underwent laparotomy from July 1998 to December 2000 were followed up successfully. Histopathologic variables were selected for univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate their influence on the outcome. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates after surgery were 56.9%, 25.5%, and 16.9%, respectively. The average survival duration was 21.91 +/- 20.17 months. In univariate analysis, the presence of lymph node (LN) metastasis, number of LNs with metastases, presence of intrahepatic metastasis, curative resection, and TNM stage were significant risk factors for survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that intrahepatic metastasis, noncurative resection, and TNM stage IVa were independent prognostic factors. The histopathologic characteristics of intrahepatic metastasis were closely related to poor prognosis in ICC patients. Extensive hepatectomy with LN dissection may offer the only chance for long-term survival in patients with ICC.

Recurrence Patterns After Hepatectomy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Implication of Milan Criteria Utilization

Bridge hepatectomy followed by salvage liver transplantation has been proposed for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and preserved liver function. Data were prospectively collected for 501 consecutive patients who underwent curative primary hepatectomy for HCC between 1990 and 2006. Patient survival, disease-free survival (DFS), recurrence patterns, and risk factors were analyzed in patients classified according to the Milan criteria. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of whether their disease was within the Milan criteria (group 1, n = 321) or not (group 2, n = 180). Group 1 patient survival and DFS rates were 73.6% and 40.6% at 5 years. Recurrence was observed in 160 group 1 patients (49.8%); in 42 (26.3%) of these 160 patients, the recurrence exceeded the Milan criteria. No recurrence was noted in 145 group 1 patients (45.2%). Group 2 patient survival and DFS rates were 52.2% and 23.2%, respectively, at 5 years. Recurrence was noted in 116 patients (64.4%); recurrence in 58 (50.0%) of these patients was within the Milan criteria. In group 2, no recurrence was noted in 55 patients (30.6%). In group 1, indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes of >15%, nonanatomical resection, and multiple tumors were statistically significant risk factors for survival; 10-year patient survival was 78.5% for patients with no risk factors and 64.9% for patients with a single risk factor. The Milan criteria should be used to recommend hepatectomy for patients with HCC; however, it is important to consider the high recurrence rate after hepatectomy and the possible requirement of salvage transplantation.

The role of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 in the survival of women with estrogen and progesterone receptor‐negative, invasive breast cancer: The California Cancer Registry, 1999–2004

Breast cancers that are negative for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) (triple negative [TN]) have been associated with high-grade histology, aggressive clinical behavior, and poor survival. It has been determined that breast cancers that are negative for ER and PR but positive for HER2 (double negative [DN]) share features with TN breast cancers. In this report, the authors quantified the contribution of HER2 as well as demographic and tumor characteristics to the survival of women with TN tumors, DN tumors, and other breast cancers (OBC). In total, 61,309 women who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 1999-2004 were identified in the California Cancer Registry. Demographic and tumor characteristics of women with TN tumors were compared with those from women with DN tumors and women with OBC. A compound proportional hazards regression analysis (PHPH) (a generalization of the Cox proportional hazards model) was used to model these characteristics. Women with TN tumors were younger, African American, Hispanic, and of lower socioeconomic status (SES), whereas women with DN tumors were slightly older; African American, and Asian/Pacific Islander. Women with TN and DN tumors presented with larger, higher grade, and higher stage than women with OBC. Survival among women with TN tumors was poorer compared with that among women with OBC but was nearly the same as that of women with DN tumors. Results of the regression analysis indicated that disease stage, tumor grade, SES, and race/ethnicity were significant risk factors for survival. Negative ER and PR status was associated with an increased risk of death. There was a small but significant difference in both long-term and short-term survival patients who had TN tumors compared with patients who had DN tumors. Patients with TN tumors shared many clinical, demographic, and tumor features and had survival that was very similar survival to that of patients with DN tumors, and survival for both groups contrasted greatly with survival for patients with OBC. Disease stage, tumor grade, SES, race/ethnicity, negative ER and PR status, rather than negative HER2 status, were risk factors for survival.

Improved Outcome of Unrelated Bone Marrow Transplantation for Severe Aplastic Anemia.

In Japan, unrelated bone marrow transplantations (U-BMT) for severe aplastic anemia (SAA) were first performed in 1993. Transplant regimens and patient selection have changed substantially since then. We aimed to determine the effect of these changes on transplant outcome. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome in patients with SAA who received U-BMT through the Japan Marrow Donor Program between 1993 and 2005. We selected 302 recipient-donor pairs in which molecular analysis of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and DQB1 were performed. Patient ages ranged from 1 to 64 years (median, 17 years). Various preconditioning regimens were used by individual centers. Either tacrolimus with methotrexate or cyclosporine with methotrexate was used for the prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in 137 (45%) patients and 127 patients (42%), respectively. Of the 302 pairs, 104 (34%) were found to be matched at HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and DQB1; 97 (32%) were mismatched at a single HLA allele (23 HLA-A or -B, 42 HLA-C, 32 HLA-DRB1 or HLA-DQB1); 83 (28%) were mismatched at two HLA alleles (35 HLA-A or -B and HLA-C, 8 HLA-A or -B and HLA-DRB1 or -DQB1, 40 HLA-C and HLA-DRB1 or -DQB1); and 18 (6%) were mismatched at three HLA alleles. Currently, 210 of the 302 patients are alive with the median follow-up period of 722 days after transplantation. The incidence of graft failure was 2.2%; that of grade II/IV GVHD was 29.0%; that of III/IV acute GVHD was 13.8%; and that of chronic GVHD was 25.2%. Multivariate analysis revealed the following significant risk factors for survival: patients older than 15 years (RR, 1.98; range 1.17–3.35); HLA-A or -B + HLA-C or HLA-DQB1 or -DRB1 (RR 2.18; range 1.29–3.68); three loci mismatching (RR 3.14; range 1.47–6.69); prophylaxis against GVHD with tacrolimus with methotrexate (RR 0.45; range 0.28–0.73), ABO major mismatch (RR 1.67; range 1.05–2.63), and non-ATG-containing CY+TBI regimen (RR 2.17; range 1.16–4.03). Patients were divided into two cohorts based on years of transplantation and we compared patients transplanted within two time periods: 1993–2000 and 2001–2005. Five-year survival increased 55.9+/−4.6% in the 1993–2000 cohort (n=116) and 72.7+/−3.8% in the 2001–2005 cohort (n=186) (p=0.008). Patients and transplant characteristics that differed significantly between the two periods were patients' age distribution, GVHD prophylaxis, HLA matching, and conditioning regimens. The percentage of patients older than 15 years was significantly larger in the recent period (p<0.001). However, the use of cyclosporine and non-ATG-containing CY+TBI regimen were more frequent in the earlier period (p<0.001). HLA-mismatching between patients and donors was more frequent in 1993–2000 (p<0.001). In conclusion, U-BMT for SAA has improved significantly in the recent 5-years period. Improved HLA matching, avoiding non-ATG-containing CY+TBI regimen, and the use of tacrolimus for GVHD prophylaxis account for this improvement.

Cardiac Re-transplantation in Pediatrics: a Multi-Institutional Study

Cardiac re-transplantation (re-Tx) among pediatric recipients remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to use the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study (PHTS) database to investigate the incidence of re-Tx and analyze the risk factors and outcomes after transplantation among children. The PHTS database was reviewed for all subjects <or=18 years of age at the time of primary transplant and re-Tx from January 1, 1993 through December 31, 2004. Multivariate analyses in the hazard-function domain were used to identify risk factors for re-Tx and for mortality after re-Tx. Risk factors for re-Tx include ventilator support, African-American ethnicity and elevated creatinine. Patient survival was inferior to that after primary transplantation (PTx) with 1-, 3- and 5-year survival probability after re-Tx of 80%, 69% and 60%, respectively (p = 0.04). Patients re-transplanted for graft coronary artery disease fared better than those re-transplanted for early graft failure. A shorter time period between PTx and re-Tx was a significant risk factor for survival according to univariate analysis. However, risk factors for death after re-Tx by multivariate analysis included only early graft failure and rejection during PTx. Survival after pediatric re-Tx is inferior to that after PTx. Re-transplantation for graft failure and rejection are associated with high relative risks for death. Given the limitations of donor availability, re-Tx for early graft failure and rejection appear contraindicated but appears acceptable for those who have survived >or=1 year after their PTx, especially those with graft coronary artery disease.

Long Term Results of Myeloablative Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Using Related and Unrelated Donors in Patients with Relapsed Composite Low and Intermediate Grade (Including Transformed) Lymphoma.

Patients (pts) with relapsed (REL) transformed non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) have poor outcome with conventional therapies. Although the role of autologous (auto) stem cell transplantation (SCT) has been previously described, there is scarce literature about allogeneic (allo) SCT in this setting. Forty pts with REL composite low/intermediate (L/I) NHL (25 transformed, 8 composite (same site) and 7 discordant (different sites)) underwent allo-SCT Jan '89 to June '05. Fifteen pts (38%) received stem cells from unrelated donors (UD) (12 matched and 3 with one antigen mis-match [1AgMM]). Six of 15 pts (40%) in the UD group are alive including one pt post 1AgMM SCT. 25 pts (62%) had matched sibling allo-SCT and 5 (20%) pts are still alive.Twenty-nine of 40 pts (73%) died, with REL NHL (n=15, 38%) or treatment related mortality (TRM) (n=14, 35%). The 2 and 5-year probability of OS were 39% [95% CI: 26–58%] and 23% [10–49%] respectively; of EFS 36% [24–55%] and 23% [11–46%]. Univariate analysis (UVA) showed presence of residual (res) NHL prior to allo-SCT as a poor prognostic factor for OS and EFS with p value of 0.029 (HR=2.2) and 0.011 (HR=2.5) respectively. No survival difference was seen between patients treated with related or UD stem cells. On multivariate analysis (MVA), development of aGVHD grades 2–4 had a significantly negative impact on both OS and EFS (for OS: p=0.006, HR=1.46, for EFS: p=0.01, HR=1.37) as did res disease prior to SCT (for OS: p=0.04, HR=2.2, for EFS: p=0.02, HR=2.4).Age >46 years was a significant risk factor for TRM on UVA (p=0.02, HR=3.3) and MVA (p=0.07, HR=2.9). MVA also showed development of cGVHD as a significant risk factor for TRM (p=0.001, HR=1.8). No difference in TRM was seen between related and UD SCT.Pts with res NHL at SCT had a higher risk of REL NHL (p=0.008, HR=5), as did pts who were chemotherapy resistant (no change in the tumor mass) pre-SCT (p=0.002, HR=3.9). Inclusion of TBI in the conditioning regimen significantly reduced the risk of REL NHL (p=0.01, RR=0.22). Prior rituximab therapy was associated with reduced REL risk, although this was not statistically significant (p=0.06, HR=0.82). CGVHD was significantly protective against REL in MVA (p=0.03, HR= 0.8), and res NHL at SCT was associated with increased REL (p=0.003, HR= 7). Stem cell dose (mononuclear cells) >3X108/kg was the only significant risk factor for development of cGVHD in UVA (p=0.04, HR=0.4) and MVA (p=0.05, HR=0.4).In conclusion, this is the largest report on the utility of allo-SCT (inculding UD-SCT) in patients with REL composite L/I-NHL. Survival was similar in pts receiving stem cells from related and unrelated donors. UVA and MVA analysis revealed multiple significant risk factors for survival, TRM, development of cGVHD and relapse which should be taken into consideration for future allo SCT pts. Development of chronic, but not acute GVHD was protective for NHL relapse, supporting the action of a graft vs lymphoma effect in this population.

Follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland in Hong Kong Chinese.

A total of 64 Chinese patients (eight men, 56 women) undergoing primary treatment for follicular thyroid cancer between 1961 and 1986 were studied retrospectively to report the local experience in treatment of this condition and to identify the risk factors for mortality. The minimum follow-up was 7 (median 14) years. The mean tumour size was 3.0 (range 0.1-11.0) cm. The majority of patients (91 per cent) underwent total or near-total thyroidectomy. Distant metastases were detected in ten patients at the time of initial diagnosis and in three during follow-up. Locoregional recurrence had developed in six patients at follow-up. There were 13 deaths, with a median survival of 45 months. The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 87 and 80 per cent respectively. Six risk factors for mortality were selected for multivariate analysis using logistic regression; the presence of distant metastasis was the only significant risk factor for survival.

Mortality and Complications After Stoma Closure

This study was undertaken to evaluate factors contributing to hospital mortality and complications of stoma closure. Retrospective cohort study. Department of Surgery of a 2500-bed university hospital. Consecutive eligible patients who underwent stoma closure were selected from a local registry containing 30 219 patients. The medical records of 587 adult patients were reviewed according to a predefined extraction form. Patients with additional, unrelated surgical interventions or younger than 18 years were excluded. Follow-up was complete for all included patients. The primary outcome variable was 30-day mortality; the secondary outcome variable was presence of surgery-related complications within 30 days. We analyzed 533 patients with stoma closure between 1993 and 2001. The overall stoma closure-related mortality rate was 3% (15 patients); the overall stoma closure-related surgical complications rate was 20% (107 patients). Wound infections (9%) and anastomotic leakage (5%) were the most common surgical complications. Age was the only significant risk factor for survival (P = .02). Use of a soft silicone drain for intraperitoneal drainage (odds ratio, 1.62 [95% confidence interval, 1.07-2.45]; P = .03) was the only significant risk factor for complications. In patients with carcinoma as the primary disease (odds ratio, 0.61 [95% confidence interval, 0.40 to 0.93]; P = .02), we observed significantly fewer complications. We found considerable mortality and complications after stoma closure. Apart from age, we could not identify any predictor for mortality in patients with stoma closure. Randomized studies are needed to determine whether certain types of drains influence outcome.

Heart transplantation in patients with diabetes mellitus in the current era

Background: In this study, we used a single-institution database to examine the risks of heart transplantation in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: Recipients 18 years and older who underwent cardiac transplantation from July 1994 to December 2000 were reviewed; 101 consecutive patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were compared with 244 patients who did not have DM and who received standard donor hearts. Survival, renal function (serum creatinine concentration), development of transplant coronary artery disease (TCAD), severe rejection, and infection (requiring hospitalization) were analyzed. Results: Patients with DM were older (mean age, 57.1 years vs 51.4 years), had greater body mass index (mean, 26.7 vs 24.1 kg/m 2, p < 0.02), and more commonly had ischemic cardiomyopathy (58% vs 43%, p = 0.02). We found a trend toward decreased survival for those with DM at 1 year (85.1% vs 90.9%; p = 0.12). Five-year survival was 81.6% for both groups. Mean follow-up time was 4.1 years. Infection rate within 3 months was greater among those with DM (14% vs 3%, odds ration = 5.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.59–16.23). Freedom from infection at 4 years was 71.0% for patients with DM and 85.0% for those without DM ( p = 0.02). Freedom from rejection at 4 years was similar (70.6% vs 73.6%, p = 0.69). At 4 years, transplant coronary artery disease (TCAD)–free survival was 69.5% for those with DM and 81.6% for those without ( p = 0.23). Mean serum creatinine concentration at 4 years after transplant was 1.5 mg/dl in patients with DM (vs 1.4, p = 0.28). Multivariate analysis showed increased baseline creatinine level as a significant risk factor for survival and showed pre-transplant ischemic cardiomyopathy as a risk factor for TCAD in both groups. Body mass index >30 was a significant risk factor for survival among patients with DM. Conclusion: We found an increased risk of serious infections in patients with DM, particularly in the early post-operative period. Careful consideration of obesity and renal function during evaluation of candidacy is indicated.

Analysis of the relationships between clinicopathologic factors and survival time in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

This study elucidated the relationships between various clinicopathologic factors and the outcome of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) treated by hepatic resection. A total of 37 ICC patients were treated by hepatic resection in our department between March 1979 and March 2001. Eleven clinicopathological variables (age, sex, preoperative jaundice, operative curability, number of tumors, UICC [Union Internationale Contre le Cancer] pT factor, UICC pN factor, UICC pM factor, histological tumor type, 10-year period during which they initially examined, and adjuvant therapy) were selected for univariate and multivariate analysis to evaluate their influence on the outcome. The actuarial 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in the 37 resected cases were 54.1%, 34.0%, and 23.9%, respectively. The stage of the ICC influenced their overall survival rate. The univariate analysis revealed that curative resection (P = 0.0018), UICC pT factor (P = 0.0445), pN factor (P = 0.0029), pM factor (P = 0.0022), and histological type (P = 0.0030) were significant risk factors for survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that noncurative resection, lymph node metastasis, and less differentiated histological type were significant risk factors for poor outcome. All 6 of the 37 patients who survived more than 5 years had undergone curative resection, all of their tumors were well differentiated, and none had lymph node metastasis. Curative surgical resection remains the only effective approach to the treatment of ICC. Extensive resection is not indicated if lymph node metastasis can be identified preoperatively or intraoperatively. Current adjuvant therapy is ineffective, and it will be necessary to assess the efficacy of new adjuvant therapy strategies or the addition of new agents in terms of the outcome of ICC.

CD31 mismatching affects marrow transplantation outcome

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) complicating allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is often attributed to mismatched minor histocompatibility antigens (mHags), which are poorly defined in humans. CD31 is a candidate human mHag relevant to acute GVHD, but reports disagree about its level of significance, the role of HLA restriction, and the relative importance of different polymorphic codons within the molecule. We therefore examined in greater detail the impact of CD31-matching on BMT outcome in a prospective study from a single institution. Samples of recipient and donor DNA were collected pretransplantation for all patients receiving unmanipulated bone marrow from an HLA-identical sibling over a 45-month period at our institution. CD31 DNA typing of alleles at the 3 polymorphic codons 125 (L or V), 563 (N or S), and 670 (R or G) was performed for 118 patient-donor pairs plus 2 additional pairs who had codon 125 typing only. Donor-recipient CD31 nonidentity was tested for correlation with BMT clinical outcome measures of severe acute GVHD, chronic GVHD, relapse, and survival. Gene frequencies of approximately 0.5 for each allele at all 3 codons were comparable to previous reports. Because complete association was seen for 563N with 670G and for 563S with 670R, nonidentity for those codons was analyzed as a single genetic marker designated codon 563/670. Donor-recipient CD31 nonidentity was a significant risk factor for overall survival, both at codon 563/670 (hazard ratio [hr] = 2.58, P = .005) and at codon 125 (hr = 1.07, P = .036). Similar results held for disease-free survival. Nonidentity at codon 563/670 was also a significant risk factor (odds ratio [OR] = 11.15, P = .011) for severe (grades III, IV) versus no (grade 0) acute GVHD. Nonidentity at codon 125 posed less but still significant risk (OR = 9.30, P = .030). When the comparison group without severe acute GVHD was expanded to include grade I as well as grade 0 patients, the risk from CD31 nonidentity increased for both codon 563/670 (OR = 12.31, P = .010) and codon 125 (OR = 11.24, P = .011). CD31 nonidentity remained a significant independent risk factor for survival and for severe acute GVHD when tested in multivariate analysis with the covariates of adulthood, recipient-donor sex difference, ethnic group, disease, pretransplantation risk category, HLA-A2 type, B44-like types, and GVHD prophylactic regimen. CD31 nonidentity showed a trend but failed to achieve statistical significance as a risk factor for relapse and for chronic GVHD. In conclusion, donor-recipient CD31 nonidentity is a significant risk factor for survival and for severe acute GVHD in HLA-identical sibling BMT. The stronger associations with codon 563/670 suggest that polymorphism may be more important than the linked polymorphism at codon 125.

Prognostic value of e-cadherin in papillary thyroid carcinoma

The prognostic significance of e-cadherin in papillary thyroid carcinoma was evaluated in a retrospective study. From September 1985 to December 1996, 113 patients underwent surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma. Seventy-eight formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples were available for immunohistochemical analysis of e-cadherin expression. In 74 of these 78 patients the postoperative course is known for 2 months to 35.2 years (median 3.6 years, mean: 4.9 +/- 4.8 years). Reduced or negative e-cadherin expression (< or = 20%) was associated with advanced T categories of the primary tumours and higher rates of synchronous lymph node involvement and distant metastasis. During follow-up in this group of patients locoregional tumour recurrence occurred more frequently and survival was shorter than in patients with tumours which exhibited e-cadherin expression of > 20%. Statistical analysis revealed e-cadherin expression (< or = 20%/ > 20%), synchronous distant metastasis (M0/pM1, cM1) and radicality of resection (R0/R1, 2) as significant risk factors for survival. Our findings provide evidence that e-cadherin is a prognostic factor in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma in Rochester, Minnesota: Trends in Incidence and Survivorship, 1950 Through 1985

In Rochester, Minnesota, 107 incidence cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma (in 46 male and 61 female patients) were diagnosed during the years 1950 through 1985. Overall crude incidence rates were 6.0 and 6.6 per 100,000 males and females, respectively. Evaluation of trends in 9-year periods showed that the rates increased from 3.2 to 8.9 for males (P = 0.015) and from 4.4 to 11.7 for females (P less than 0.001). Age-specific rates suggested that the highest incidence occurs in the age-groups 50 to 59 years and 70 years or older for males and 40 to 49 years and 70 years or older for females. Lesions were most common in the head and neck area among males (P = 0.044) and on the lower extremities among females (P = 0.018). The most frequent histologic type was superficial spreading melanoma (61%). Five-year survival was diminished overall for patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma--0.72 in comparison with 0.88 expected for the general population. Statistically significant risk factors for survival were depth of invasion of the lesion (Clark level), thickness of the lesion, histologic type, and age of the patient.