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Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells
Published on: June 7, 2019
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Melanoma of the external ear: A population-based study
Nicholas L Deep1, Amy E Glasgow2, Elizabeth B Habermann2
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
American Journal of Otolaryngology
|March 5, 2017
Summary
Primary melanoma of the external ear (PMEE) is rare. This study found that older age, increasing tumor thickness, advanced stage, ulceration, positive lymph nodes, and distant metastasis independently predicted cancer-specific death in PMEE patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Primary melanoma of the external ear (PMEE) is a rare malignancy.
- Large population-based registry analysis is suitable for studying rare diseases like PMEE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence, treatment, and survival characteristics of PMEE.
- To utilize the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registries for PMEE analysis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort analysis of SEER data (2004-2013).
- Inclusion of PMEE cases staged I-IV using AJCC 7th edition guidelines.
- Calculation of population-based incidence and assessment of survival using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression models.
Main Results:
- Analysis of 5481 PMEE patients (mean age 66.7 years, 86.5% male).
- PMEE incidence was 1.91 per 100,000 persons-per-year.
- Five-year cancer-specific survival varied by stage, with significantly lower survival in advanced stages (e.g., 57.0% for stage III, 20.5% for stage IV).
Conclusions:
- This is the first study to characterize PMEE epidemiology, presentation, and outcomes using SEER data.
- Older age, increasing Breslow thickness, advanced stage, ulceration, positive lymph nodes, and distant metastasis were independent predictors of cancer-specific death.
