Eszter Gorka1, Dániel Fabó2, András Gézsi3, Kata Czirbesz4, Gabriella Liszkay4. 1. Department of Dermato-oncology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary goreszter@yahoo.com. 2. Epilepsy Centre, Department of Neurology, National Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Budapest, Hungary. 3. Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. 4. Department of Dermato-oncology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: The frequency of brain metastasis (BM) is up to 45-50% in patients with advanced melanoma. Our aim was to identify the risk factors for the early occurrence of BM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 333 patients with BM were identified from our database of 2,972 patients with melanoma between 2003-2015. RESULTS: The median elapsed time to BM (TTBM) was significantly associated with Breslow thickness, ulceration, location, and patient age. Head and neck location was the strongest predictor for early BM development [hazard ratio (HR)=1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.05-3.12; p=0.031) followed by Breslow thickness >2 mm (HR=1.53, 95% CI=1.04-2.23; p=0.027). Body part-specific median TTBM was 51.5, 43, 38.5, 32, 35, 36.5, 35.5 and 19 months in leg-foot, thigh, abdomen-pelvic, chest-back, lower arm-hand, upper arm-shoulder, face-neck and scalp regions, respectively. CONCLUSION: We suggest brain magnetic resonance imaging follow-up in the high-risk patient group of patients with melanoma in the head and neck region, especially for those with primary melanoma over Breslow 2 mm located in the scalp. Copyright
BACKGROUND/AIM: The frequency of brain metastasis (BM) is up to 45-50% in patients with advanced melanoma. Our aim was to identify the risk factors for the early occurrence of BM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 333 patients with BM were identified from our database of 2,972 patients with melanoma between 2003-2015. RESULTS: The median elapsed time to BM (TTBM) was significantly associated with Breslow thickness, ulceration, location, and patient age. Head and neck location was the strongest predictor for early BM development [hazard ratio (HR)=1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.05-3.12; p=0.031) followed by Breslow thickness >2 mm (HR=1.53, 95% CI=1.04-2.23; p=0.027). Body part-specific median TTBM was 51.5, 43, 38.5, 32, 35, 36.5, 35.5 and 19 months in leg-foot, thigh, abdomen-pelvic, chest-back, lower arm-hand, upper arm-shoulder, face-neck and scalp regions, respectively. CONCLUSION: We suggest brain magnetic resonance imaging follow-up in the high-risk patient group of patients with melanoma in the head and neck region, especially for those with primary melanoma over Breslow 2 mm located in the scalp. Copyright
Authors: Laura J Gardner; Morgan Ward; Robert H I Andtbacka; Kenneth M Boucher; Glen M Bowen; Tawnya L Bowles; Adam L Cohen; Kenneth Grossmann; Ying J Hitchcock; Sheri L Holmen; John Hyngstrom; Hung Khong; Martin McMahon; Marcus M Monroe; Carolyn B Ross; Gita Suneja; David Wada; Douglas Grossman Journal: Melanoma Res Date: 2017-10 Impact factor: 3.599