Malignant Melanoma in Khouzestan: Study of 62 cases

Background: Malignant melanoma is the leading cause of death among skin cancers in western countries. However, the incidence, histologic subtypes, and tumor behaviors are quite different in Asians and western populations. Objective: This study was designed to survey the clinicopathological aspects of malignant melanoma among Khouzestan people. Patients and Methods: In a retrospective study 62 patients (28 women, mean age 53.80±14.1, and 34 men, mean age 55.9±15.8) were diagnosed as melanoma in Khouzestan province, southwest of Iran during 1990-2000. The analyzed data included sex, age at diagnosis, location and histologic subtypes. Results: Malignant melanoma was found to be more common in men than women, in the approximate ratio of 5 to 4. From 62 cases of malignant melanoma, 59.67% were cutaneous, 19.35% metastatic in lymph nodes, 11.29% ocular, 4.83% gastrointestinal tract, 3.22% mucosal, and 1.61% inner ear and mastoid. The majority of cases were unclassified malignant melanoma (30.64%), followed by nodular melanoma (27.41%), metastatic malignant melanoma (24.19%), acral lentiginous melanoma (12.9%), and lentigo maligna melanoma (4.84%), respectively. Conclusion: Although malignant melanoma is a rare tumor in Khouzestan, further studied are necessary to analyze present and future trends of melanoma, accurately. Ongoing and new prevention and control strategies may be mandatory to curtail the melanoma outbreak.