Prognostic factors and survival of patients with primary cutaneous melanoma

Cutaneous melanoma has an aggressive clinical presentation with rapid growth velocity and metastatic dissemination. To evaluate prognostic factors and survival of patients diagnosed with primary cutaneous melanoma. Clinical-epidemiological and histopathological data from 102 patients diagnosed between 2004 to 2008, were retrieved from the archives of the Pathological Anatomy Service of the Araújo Jorge Hospital in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. For survival analysis, we selected patients who underwent a 60month follow-up. Cutaneous melanoma affects mostly female individuals with the age of diagnosis ranging from 51 to 70 years. Regarding the clinical evolution of the patients 63.7% were alive during this study, and 25.5% died of melanoma. Metastasis were present in 47% of patients and 70.8% grew in the lymph nodes. The overall survival curve regarding the 5-year follow-up was 73%. The study group with Breslow index ≥2.1mm (p=0.0339), level of Clark IV and V (p=0.0007) and the presence of metastasis presented a lower survival rate. Early diagnosis emphasizing the significant prognostic factors of patients with cutaneous melanoma allows the definition of prognostic with a more reliable estimate and more survival probabilities.