Characterization of patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma treated at the Celestino Hernández Robau Oncology Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Cutaneous malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive and lethal neoplasm that has increased its incidence in epidemic proportions.

Objective: To characterize clinically, epidemiologically and histopathologically patients with the diagnosis of cutaneous malignant melanoma attended at the “Celestino Hernández Robau” Teaching University Hospital between 2017 and 2021.

Material and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive investigation was carried out on 151 patients with histological diagnosis of cutaneous malignant melanoma attended at the Department of Peripheral Tumors of Celestino Hernández Robau Teaching University Hospital in the period between 2017 and 2021. Epidemiological, clinical and histopathological variables were analyzed. Individual medical records and biopsy reports were reviewed to obtain the information. Descriptive statistics were used.

Results: The results show that 50.3 % of patients were men and 35.8 % were over 70 years of age. The clinical varieties of superficial and nodular extension were the most common, each one with 35.8 % of cases; and the trunk was the most common location in 47.7 % of the cases. Patients diagnosed at stage I predominated (48.3%). The mitotic index was the histological variable most strongly associated with the presence of metastasis (p=0.000; Cramer's V=0.757).

Conclusions: There was evidence of an association between the variables Breslow index, ulceration, mitotic index, vascular invasion, lymphatic invasion, and neural invasion with the presence of metastasis. Although most patients were diagnosed at early stages, the proportion of cases in advanced stages reveals persistent shortcomings in the early detection of cutaneous malignant melanoma.