[Evaluation of prognostic factors in malignant melanoma according to the actuarial method: report of 75 cases (author's transl)].

The survival rate of 75 patients with malignant melanomas has been calculated according to the actuarial method. Various parameters have been evaluated such as sex and site distribution, histologic data and levels of invasion. The actuarial method appeared to be the more accurate way to appreciate the percentage of survivors in a high-mortality group. Thus, although the incidence of melanoma was higher among females, their prognoses were better than those of males. The localisations on the trunk and the lower extremities were those with the poorest prognosis, nodular melanomas had a survival rate below those of superficially spreading melanomas. Level III of invasion should be regarded as a hinge in terms of lymph node metastasis and survival.