Experts answer factors that affect the prognosis of melanoma

Clinically, the recurrence rate of melanoma is relatively high. The reason is that the prognosis of melanoma is poor, which is very unfavorable to patients. So what are the common factors that affect the prognosis of melanoma ? The following is a list of common factors that affect the prognosis of melanoma.

In general, the common factors that affect the prognosis of melanoma are:

1. It is related to the depth of tumor infiltration. According to the results of a follow-up study of a group of malignant melanoma patients by the World Health Organization, the prognosis of melanoma is closely related to the thickness of the tumor. The 5-year survival rate is 89% for tumors ≤0.75mm, and only 25% for those ≥4mm.

2. Lymph node metastasis: The 5-year survival rate of patients without lymph node metastasis is 77%, while that of patients with lymph node metastasis is only 31%. The prognosis of melanoma is also related to the number of lymph node metastases.

3. Lesion location: The location of melanoma is related to the prognosis of melanoma. Melanoma occurring on the trunk has the worst prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of 41%; melanoma occurring on the head is second, with a 5-year survival rate of 53%; melanoma occurring on the limbs is better, with a 5-year survival rate of 57% for lower limbs and 60% for upper limbs; melanoma occurring on the mucosa has an even worse prognosis.

4. Age and gender. It is generally believed that the prognosis of melanoma in women is significantly better than that in men, and the prognosis of melanoma in younger people is better than that in older people.

5. Surgical method, that is, the thickness of the tumor is related to the range of resection. For thickness ≤ 0.75mm, the resection range is 2 to 3cm from the tumor edge; for thickness > 4mm, wide resection is performed within 5cm from the tumor edge. Regional lymph node dissection that does not meet the specifications often promotes the spread of the tumor throughout the body and affects the prognosis of melanoma.

The above is an introduction to the common factors that affect the prognosis of melanoma. I hope it will be helpful to everyone. For more questions about the prognosis of melanoma, you can consult our online experts, who will give you detailed answers.