[Surgical treatment of acral melanoma: a report of eight cases]

Acral melanoma represents 3 to 15% of all cutaneous melanoma. In Morocco, this location is predominant. Through our study, we intend to analyze the therapeutic aspects of acral melanoma, while focusing on the epidemiological, clinical, pathological and prognostic profile of acral melanoma cases listed in osteoarticular surgery department of the CHU Hassan II of Fez in the period from January 2009 to December 2012. The mean age of the patients was 63 years, with slight predominance of women. The most commonly involved location was plantar region (including the heel) and pigmented color was the most common. The concept of micro trauma was found in almost half of our patients. Plantar localization was the most commun lesion. Inguinal lymph nodes attended three patients and one patient had deep lymph nodes. Only one of them had a lymphadenectomy. Nodular melanoma os the most found histological type in our study with a Breslow thickness of 8.5mm on average, and Clark level IV is found in the majority of cases. Excision of the tumour was performed in all patients. It was estimated wide in all cases. Five patients received reparative surgery consisting of flap coverage. This study has proved a high incidence of poor prognostic factors clinically and histologically.