[Stage distribution of malignant melanomas in a Hungarian centre].

INTRODUCTION

Survival of patients with malignant melanoma primarily depends on tumor stage. Hungarian National Cancer Registry does not specify tumors according to TNM stages.

AIM

The authors aimed to survey the stage distribution of melanomas at the Department of Dermatology, Dermatooncology and Venerology, Semmelweis University.

METHOD

1160 patients (558 males and 602 females, aged 60.5±16 and 57±17 years, respectively) diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma between 2004-2009 were included.

RESULTS

In comparison with international studies, the case distribution was favorable in stages IA and IV, i.e. the proportion of early melanomas was relatively high (IA: 43.8%), while the incidence in stage IV was low (0.4%). In stages IB-IIA the incidence was significantly lower, while in IIC, IIIA, IIIB it was higher as compared to published data from Western-Europe, Australia and the United States.

CONCLUSIONS

The study underlines the necessity of prevention and awareness campaigns that may result in increase of early diagnosis of melanomas.