Cutaneous malignant melanoma : a clinicopathological study of 24 cases

الملخص EN

Objective: To evaluate our experience in primary cutaneous malignant melanoma at King Hussein Medical Center which is a main tertiary care teaching hospital in Jordan, in order to determine the early recognition and diagnosis to give a better chance for treatment and a better prognosis and survival rate.

Methods: Twenty four cases of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma, 14 males and 10 females, have been diagnosed at King Hussein Medical Center during the period January 2001 - May 2005 were included in this study.

The histopathology records of these cases were reviewed and analyzed in accordance to their clinical data.

Results: Out of the 24 cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma, 14 males and 10 females with age range 15 years to 85 years old, and the mean age of (49) years for females, and (57) years for males with skin type (II- IV).

There were only four cases that have been diagnosed at early stage with Clark level I, and II, and III.

The rest of 20 cases were Clark level IV and V.

There were nine cases out of the 20 who had metastases at the time of diagnosis.

Conclusions: In this study, we noticed that most of malignant melanoma cases were not diagnosed at their early treatable and curable stage.

So we need to improve public and physician awareness of this highly malignant yet visible tumor and also advise people for self skin examination to detect any pigmented lesions that look unusual.

Skin biopsy is essential for the diagnosis of melanoma for any suspicious skin lesions.