Clinico-pathological Characteristics of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma in Pakistan

Objective To analyse epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) in Pakistan; and to compare the results with other studies. Study design Case series. Place and duration of study Shaukat Khaum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH) from January 1997 to December 2017. Methodology All patients presenting to the study centre with a diagnosis of CMM were included in the study. Non-cutaneous melanoma cases were excluded. Patient demographics, tumor type, and tumor stage were recorded retrospectively. All data were analysed in SPSS and descriptive statistics were determined. Results A total of 169 CMM patients were registered during a 20-year period. The highest incidence of melanoma was seen in the age group 40-59 years (n=69, 40.8%). Most common clinical subtype was unspecified melanoma (n=154, 91%). The most frequently observed T-stage at presentation was Tx (n=124, 73.4%), followed by T4 (n=23, 13.6%). With regard to body distribution, CM was seen most commonly in the lower limb including hip. Conclusion CMM is a rare disease in Pakistan. However, patients tend to present at a more advanced stage. Identification of risk factors and tumor characteristics is, therefore, of paramount importance in managing these patients. Key Words: Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), Pakistan, Lower middle income country, Stage.