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Salve G. Ronan, MD; Ana M. Eng, MD; Henry A. Briele, MD; Norio N. Shioura, MD; Tapas K. Das Gupta, MD, PhD

Arch Dermatol. 1987;123(10):1326-1330.

Abstract
• The significance of partial regression in thin malignant melanomas (0.76 mm or less) of the skin was evaluated to determine if the regression was associated with the later development of metastases in patients who previously were considered to have a favorable prognosis. Of 575 patients with primary cutaneous melanoma treated and followed up by the Division of Surgical Oncology at the University of Illinois, Chicago, we found that 103 (18%) had tumors that measured less than 0.76 mm. Of these, 30 (29%) showed histologic evidence of partial regression. In six (20%) of the 30 patients, visceral metastases developed and the patients died. All six had more than 77% regression of their primary tumors. Of the remaining 24 patients, only one had regression greater than 77% and she is still alive three years after diagnosis. Most of these 24 (83%) patients had regression of less than 50% (mean, 29.9%). No metastasis occurred in the 73 patients who had thin melanomas without histologic evidence of regression. It is apparent from this study that patients with thin melanomas who show partial regression cannot be included in the "low-risk" group if the extent of regression is 75% to 80% or more.

(Arch Dermatol 1987;123:1326-1330)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Pathology (Dr Ronan), Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology (Drs Briele and Das Gupta), and the Research Resources Center (Dr Shioura), University of Illinois at Chicago, and the Department of Pathology, Loyola University, Maywood, Ill (Dr Eng).

Footnotes
Acccepted for publication April 12, 1987.

Presented at the American Society of Dermatopathology Meeting, Washington, DC, November 1984.

Reprint requests to Department of Pathology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, 1853 W Polk St. Chicago, IL 60612 (Dr Ronan).

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