STUDY OF SELECTED CLINICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MELANOMA

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate selected clinical and histopathological features of melanoma and to explore their associations.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 excised melanoma specimens collected from March 2023 to November 2024.

Results: The median age of patients with melanoma was 55 years. Nodular melanoma was the predominant subtype, accounting for 60% of cases. Overall, most melanomas demonstrated a high mitotic rate (60%), a greater Breslow thickness (with tumors > 4 mm accounting for 64.9%), and a substantial ulceration rate (36%). The presence of ulceration was significantly associated with increased Breslow thickness and high mitotic rate.

Conclusions: Most patients in the study were diagnosed with melanoma at middle age and in an advanced stage, with nodular melanoma as the predominant subtype. Most melanomas showed a high mitotic rate, increased Breslow thickness, and a notable prevalence of ulceration. Significant associations were observed between increased Breslow thickness, high mitotic rate, and ulceration.

Keywords: melanoma; Breslow thickness; prognosis