[Morphological prognostic criteria in skin melanoma]

The value of morphologic features to be used prognosing dissemination and survival in skin malignant melanoma is discussed. Single-factor statistical analysis showed tumor thickness, extent of invasion or local spreading, clinico-morphologic pattern, lymphoid-plasmocytic infiltration, mitotic activity and cell composition to be the most reliable in predicting survival and dissemination in clinical stage I malignant melanoma of the skin. These parameters should be evaluated at microscopic evaluation of the tumor. Two-, five- and ten-year prognosis was obtained by multifactorial analysis yielding credibilities of 86.2, 78.5 and 71% for survival and 61.5, 68.7 and 74.3% for lethality, respectively.