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The association between trauma and melanoma in the Chinese population: a retrospective study
1Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Background:
The association between trauma and melanoma has been a controversial issue.
Objectives:
To analyse the profiles of melanoma, and to determine whether trauma is associated with development of acral melanoma in the Chinese population.
Patients And Methods:
Retrospective analysis of 685 cases of cutaneous melanoma in the dermatology departments of Xijing Hospital in northwestern China and Xinan Hospital in southwestern China from 1982 to 2011.
Results:
Of the 685 patients included in the study, 437 (63.8%) suffered from melanoma on the extremities. A total of 104 patients (15.2%) exhibited an association between trauma and melanoma. The primary anatomic sites of the tumours were the upper extremities (17, 16.3%), lower extremities (74, 71.2%) and other sites (13, 12.5%). Among these cases, the extremities were with remarkably higher risks of post-trauma melanoma than the other sites [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.968; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.267-5.592]. Notably, patients in the south part of China were with a stronger risk of post-trauma melanoma on the lower extremities than those in the north (adjusted OR 1.764; 95% CI 1.192-2.666) part. In addition, a significant higher risk of post-trauma melanoma on the extremities was observed in the male gender (adjusted OR 1.848; 95% CI 1.186-2.887).
Conclusions:
Our findings provide epidemiological evidence for a potential association between traumatic events and melanoma of the extremities, especially the lower limbs, where a history of trauma is more likely.
