Patterns of Detection of Superficial Spreading and Nodular-Type Melanoma: A Multicenter Italian Study

Abstract

Patterns of detection for nodular melanomas significantly differ from those for superficial spreading melanomas. For superficial spreading, but not for nodular, melanomas, variables associated with protective effect against late diagnosis can be identified.

California Medicaid Enrollment and Melanoma Stage at Diagnosis

“…[9][10][11][12] Several studies have described associations between low SES and an increased likelihood of late-stage melanoma at diagnosis, and report that the effect of SES on late diagnosis operates independently of race/ethnicity. 2,6,8,[19][20][21][22] The results of the current study also showed a clear inverse gradient by neighborhood SES, with individuals living in lower-SES neighborhoods being significantly more likely to have late-stage melanoma at diagnosis than those in high-SES neighborhoods, even after covariate adjustment. The finding that these neighborhood SES-late stage disease associations remained significant after adjustment for Medicaid enrollment further supports the notion that cancer screening in low-SES neighborhoods in California is inadequate, similar to prior analyses.…”

Clinical features of 36 cases of amelanotic melanomas and considerations about the relationship between histologic subtypes and diagnostic delay

“…... Once perceived as a suspicious lesion by the patient itself or other detectors, NM and SSM are not different in term of ... delay'. 16 As regard the AM, the observation of prevalent nodular or fast-growing lesions throws an interesting light about the problem of prognosis of these tumours. Like for the pigmented counterpart, it seems that almost two types of AM exist: the first subtype is a fast-growing, generally NM in which, because of the speed of growth, the delay in diagnosis presumably don't play an important role in prognosis because the tumour reaches a deep dermal invasion in a fast way.…”

Screening, early detection, and trends for melanoma: Current status (2000-2006) and future directions

“…17 In Italy, nodular melanoma also comprised a higher percentage of $ 2 mm lesions than SSM (65% vs 10%). 24 More than 60% of melanomas $ 3.5 mm accessioned by the Scottish Melanoma Group were nodular disease, with a trend toward older cases in more recent years ([65% of the thickest cases were in individuals $ 65 years of age). 25 Because thick melanoma is often nodular disease, there is a strong interest in the clinical presentation and biologic factors of this tumor subtype.…”