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Clinical Patterns of Melanoma in Asians: 11-Year Experience in a Tertiary Referral Center.
- Source :
-
Annals of plastic surgery [Ann Plast Surg] 2016 Feb; Vol. 77 Suppl 1, pp. S6-S11. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Background: Malignant melanoma is a relatively common malignancy in the West, but has a significantly lower incidence in Asians. Stark contrast in clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis has been observed between the 2 populations, yet data are limited. Here, we evaluate 106 Asian patients from a tertiary referral center in Hong Kong during an 11-year period. The purpose of this study was to collectively review all types of melanomas to analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of this poorly understood condition in an Asian population.<br />Methods: A total of 106 patients diagnosed with malignant melanoma from 2002 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, clinical presentations, pathological subtypes, treatments, and survival outcomes were evaluated.<br />Results: Cutaneous melanomas dominated with 46 (43.4%) cases, followed by mucosal (39.6%), ocular (9.4%), and melanomas of unknown primary (7.5%); 43.3% patients presented in stage I, 36.7% in stage II, 18.9% in stage III, and 1.1% in stage IV. Acral lentiginous melanoma was the commonest subtype of cutaneous melanomas (60.9%). When types of melanomas were reviewed collectively, the median overall survival, disease-specific survival, and recurrence-free survival were 37, 45, and 48 months, respectively. Cutaneous melanoma had the best median overall survival of 59 months, followed by ocular melanoma (58 months), mucosal melanoma (18 months), and melanoma of unknown primary (2 months). Similar patterns were observed for disease-specific survival and recurrence-free survival.<br />Conclusions: Melanoma among Asians remains poorly understood. There is a clear distinction in the clinical patterns between Asians and whites and the difference is not solely accounted for by the lower incidence of cutaneous melanoma. Certain subtypes, such as mucosal melanoma and is acral lentiginous melanoma, seemed to have disproportionately high incidences. Further studies are warranted to elucidate these observations. The poor survival outcomes reflected the need for better awareness and understanding of the condition by both the general public and the physicians.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anus Neoplasms diagnosis
Anus Neoplasms ethnology
Anus Neoplasms mortality
Anus Neoplasms pathology
Child
Eye Neoplasms diagnosis
Eye Neoplasms ethnology
Eye Neoplasms mortality
Eye Neoplasms pathology
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Head and Neck Neoplasms diagnosis
Head and Neck Neoplasms ethnology
Head and Neck Neoplasms mortality
Head and Neck Neoplasms pathology
Hong Kong epidemiology
Humans
Male
Melanoma ethnology
Melanoma mortality
Melanoma pathology
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Staging
Prognosis
Rectal Neoplasms diagnosis
Rectal Neoplasms ethnology
Rectal Neoplasms mortality
Rectal Neoplasms pathology
Retrospective Studies
Skin Neoplasms diagnosis
Skin Neoplasms ethnology
Skin Neoplasms mortality
Skin Neoplasms pathology
Survival Analysis
Tertiary Care Centers
Urogenital Neoplasms diagnosis
Urogenital Neoplasms ethnology
Urogenital Neoplasms mortality
Urogenital Neoplasms pathology
Young Adult
Asian People
Melanoma diagnosis
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1536-3708
- Volume :
- 77 Suppl 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Annals of plastic surgery
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26808749
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1097/SAP.0000000000000731