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Prognostic index for malignant melanoma
Author(s) -
Kopf Alfred W.,
Gross Dennis F.,
Rogers Gary S.,
Rigel Darrell S.,
Hellman Laura J.,
Levenstein Marcia,
Welkovich Bruce,
Friedman Robert J.,
Roses Daniel F.,
Bart Robert S.,
Mintzis Medwin M.,
Gumport Stephen L.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19870315)59:6<1236::aid-cncr2820590634>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - medicine , melanoma , index (typography) , dermatology , oncology , cancer research , world wide web , computer science
This report verifies the ability of a Prognostic Index (PI) to accurately predict 5‐year survival rates for 879 Stage I cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM) patients seen at New York University Medical Center. The PI used in this study was first reported from Munich, West Germany, and is calculated from standard histologic sections by multiplying the MM thickness in millimeters (Breslow method) by the number of MM mitoses per square millimeter. A PI value of <19 versus ≥19 was found to be a significant and independent prognostic variable for Stage I MM when compared with seven other predictive variables (including Breslow thickness). These PI intervals identified a subgroup of patients with MM of intermediate thicknesses (1.50–3.49 mm) whose significantly worse survival would not have been anticipated if prognosis were determined by Breslow thickness alone. For example, patients with MM 1.50 to 2.49 mm thick have a 5‐year survival rate of 84.1% determined by Breslow thickness alone; however, among these patients exists a subgroup with PI ≥ 19 whose survival rate is only 57.6%. This study verifies the additive usefulness of the PI in predicting survival rates of patients with Stage I cutaneous MM. Cancer 59:1236‐1241, 1987.