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. 2011:2011:384729.
doi: 10.5402/2011/384729. Epub 2011 Jul 26.

Prognostic variables and surgical management of foot melanoma: review of a 25-year institutional experience

Omar M Rashid  1 , Julia C Schaum, Luke G Wolfe, Nooshin K Brinster, James P Neifeld
Affiliations

Prognostic variables and surgical management of foot melanoma: review of a 25-year institutional experience

Omar M Rashid et al. ISRN Dermatol. 2011.

Abstract

Introduction. Cutaneous foot melanoma is rare, challenging to manage, and not adequately examined in the literature. This study evaluated the prognostic variables and surgical management of foot melanoma. Materials and Methods. Foot melanoma cases managed at an academic center from 1985 to 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Results. 46 patients were identified with a broad range of demographic characteristics. Overall recurrence was 32.6%: 19% acral lentiginous, 57% nodular, 66% superficial spreading, 30% melanoma unspecified, 50% severely atypical; 53% ulcerated, 23% nonulcerated; 29% on the dorsum of the foot, 17% heel, 60% ankle, 22% toe, 50% plantar; 0% <1 mm thick, 47% 1-4 mm, 33% >4 mm. 13 had positive nodes, 4 (31%) of whom recurred. Prognostic factors and recurrence did not correlate, and survival was 96% with a median followup of 91 months. Conclusions. Aggressive management of foot melanoma may result in excellent long-term survival even following disease recurrence.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The demographics of the patients by age distribution.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The distributions of pathology by anatomic site of origin (a), thickness by anatomic site of origin (b), thickness by pathology (c), and mitotic index by pathology and thickness (d).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The recurrence rate by prognostic factor (a), site of recurrence by prognostic factor (b), recurrence and site of recurrence by mitotic index (c), and thickness (d).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Recurrence analysis: the mean cumulative functions compared by pathology (a), anatomic site of origin (b), and thickness (c).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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