Factors Influencing Disease Progression in Patients with Head and Neck Melanoma
Uslu U, Schuler G, Breuninger H (2017)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2017
Journal
Book Volume: 37
Pages Range: 3811-3816
Journal Issue: 7
DOI: 10.21873/anticanres.11759
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Histological parameters as well as the status of sentinel lymph node are known to be strong prognostic factors in patients with melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed 1,384 patients who were diagnosed with head and neck melanoma between 1976 and 2010 regarding prognostic factors [tumor thickness, level of invasion, sentinel lymph node (SLN) status, ulceration, histological subtype, localization, and gender], overall survival, and disease-free survival. RESULTS: Patients who developed metastases had a significantly thicker tumor than patients without metastases. Additionally, a thicker tumor was often associated with a higher level of invasion (Clark level). There was no overall survival benefit in patients who underwent SLN dissection when compared to patients who did not (p=0.07). Compared to SLN-negative patients, patients with SLN involvement had a significantly shorter disease-free period (p<0.001) and shorter overall survival time (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In summary, tumor thickness is the most important prognostic factor. SLN dissection does not affect the overall survival of patients with melanoma. However, a positive SLN is a marker for a worse outcome in these patients.
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Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Uslu, U., Schuler, G., & Breuninger, H. (2017). Factors Influencing Disease Progression in Patients with Head and Neck Melanoma. Anticancer Research, 37(7), 3811-3816. https://doi.org/10.21873/anticanres.11759
MLA:
Uslu, Ugur, Gerold Schuler, and Helmut Breuninger. "Factors Influencing Disease Progression in Patients with Head and Neck Melanoma." Anticancer Research 37.7 (2017): 3811-3816.
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