Cutaneous head and neck melanoma (CHNM): A population-based study of the prognostic impact of tumor location

Anthropometric factors and Breslow thickness: prospective data on 2570 cases of cutaneous melanoma in the population-based Janus Cohort

“…The proportions of men diagnosed as T3/T4 were around twice that of women. That men are diagnosed with CM at a later stage than women has also been reported in two recent Norwegian studies, 37,38 and may be a result of lower awareness (patient delay) or a higher tumour growth rate in men. 39 Our finding that 24% of the cases were diagnosed as T3/T4 is in sharp contrast to the 15% reported from the U.S.A. and Australia.…”

The anatomic distribution of cutaneous melanoma: A detailed study of 5141 lesions

“…The peri‐auricular, ear and cheek had the highest incidence of nodular melanoma per unit area. Previous studies have similarly shown that nodular melanoma is more common in the head and neck, leading some to suggest that it may arise primarily as a result of chronic sun‐exposure …”

“…The anatomic location of cutaneous melanoma is of clinical importance. There is evidence that melanomas at different sites present with unique clinicopathologic characteristics, and location itself has been identified as an independent prognostic factor …”

Geographic region: Does it matter in cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck?

“…Tumor stage guides treatment decisions, and is the most useful prognostic indicator of survival in melanoma . Anatomic site is also correlated with survival, with tumors on the scalp, ears, and neck classically showing poorer survival rates than the face and lips . Although American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging has higher prognostic value, classifying melanoma based on histopathologic characteristics allows more insight into the clinical implications of each subtype, including demographic susceptibilities, risk factors, and disease‐specific survival (DSS) .…”

“…2,5,6 Anatomic site is also correlated with survival, with tumors on the scalp, ears, and neck classically showing poorer survival rates than the face and lips. 2,5,6,17 Although American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging has higher prognostic value, classifying melanoma based on histopathologic characteristics allows more insight into the clinical implications of each subtype, including demographic susceptibilities, risk factors, and disease-specific survival (DSS). 6,10,18,19 Subtypes of cutaneous melanoma include nodular melanoma (NM); lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM); superficial spreading melanoma (SSM); acral lentiginous melanoma malignant (ALMM); desmoplastic melanoma malignant (DMM); spindle cell melanoma, not otherwise specified (NOS) (SCM); and finally, malignant melanoma NOS (MMNOS).…”