Biopsy Type and Metastatic Recurrence in Melanoma: A Cohort Study

Melanoma is a dynamic health problem caused by deteriorating melanocytes that generate aberrant melanin that gives color to the skin. It remains the leading cause of death from skin cancer. The incidence and mortality rates of melanoma emphasize the need for a suitable diagnostic biopsy, which is important for the optimal treatment of newly observed melanoma patients.

This study aims to evaluate the presence of melanoma metastases, mitotic rate, ulceration, and Breslow thickness, which are the most significant predictors of mortality from melanoma and are important for the diagnosis and optimal treatment of newly diagnosed melanoma patients.

A cohort of 56 patients diagnosed with melanoma in the upper or lower limbs between 2020 and 2024 was analyzed to investigate whether partial biopsies influence melanoma metastasis. All patients underwent biopsy followed by complete resection and were followed for 3 years. We evaluated clinical characteristics, including Breslow thickness, surgical excision width, CLARK grade, ulcer presence, vascular invasion, and biopsy-excision interval, for their influence on recurrence time. The relationships between these factors and recurrence were assessed using the rank sum test and Spearman correlation analysis.

The results revealed that all patients had metastasis at varying intervals post-surgery, with different patterns observed between upper and lower limb melanomas. However, the correlation between recurrence duration and the analyzed characteristics was not statistically significant.

Thus, our current revelations conclude that complete resection of the tumor lesions is sufficient for patients diagnosed with melanoma after biopsy, and extended resection is unnecessary.  .