Primary Cutaneous Melanoma: 7-year Follow-up (2003–2009)

Background: Primary cutaneous melanoma constitutes the main cause of skin cancer death in developed countries, and its incidence in recent years has been increasing in a steady, worrisome manner.
Aim: This study evaluated the histopathological aspects of this disease, and correlated them with patient prognosis.
Material and methods: The study included 138 patients with mild to severe primary cutaneous melanoma who were diagnosed in the Laboratory of Pathology Targu Mures during 2003–2009. Data were provided from hospital registers and the statistical analysis was performed by using the computer program called Excel.
Results: We found 76 malignant melanoma in females and 62 in males. The most common lesion areas were: the lower limbs (50), and the trunk (41).
Conclusions: Malignant cutaneous melanoma is still a major clinical challenge because all our patients with advanced tumors were diagnosed with poor prognosis.