Características clínicas e histológicas del melanoma primario múltiple en una serie de 31 pacientes / Clinical and Histologic Features of Multiple Primary Melanoma in a Series of 31 Patients

INTRODUCCIÓN: Realizamos una revisión de los melanomas múltiples primarios que se han diagnosticado en nuestro servicio a lo largo de los últimos 32 años (1987-2019) con el objetivo de tener mejor caracterizada nuestra población de pacientes con melanoma y poder ofrecerles un seguimiento más estrecho mediante la elaboración de un protocolo de seguimiento personalizado. METODOLOGÍA: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y retrospectivo de los melanomas primarios múltiples diagnosticados en un hospital de tercer nivel entre enero de 1987 y marzo de 2019. Se recogieron las características clínicas, epidemiológicas e histológicas de los melanomas primarios, así como de los subsecuentes melanomas, y se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las mismas. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 31 pacientes (15 hombres y 16 mujeres), con una media de edad de 67 años (intervalo: 36-85 años). La mediana de tiempo transcurrido desde el diagnóstico del primer melanoma primario y el del segundo melanoma fue de 2 años (intervalo 0-4 años). La mediana del número de melanomas por paciente fue de 2 (entre 2 y 6). Del total de 31 pacientes, 25 padecieron 2 melanomas (80%), 4 de ellos 3 melanomas (13%), y 2 pacientes presentaron 5 y 6 melanomas primarios, respectivamente. Los segundos melanomas primarios o subsecuentes eran menos invasivos comparados con los primeros. La mediana de índices de Breslow fue de 1mm en los primeros (entre 0,67 y 4 mm) y de 0,5 mm (0,32-2,42 mm) en los segundos. CONCLUSIONES: Los melanomas subsecuentes son más finos que los primeros melanomas diagnosticados. Se encontró un aumento de la frecuencia en los dos últimos años de melanomas múltiples primarios. Estos datos resaltan la importancia del seguimiento estrecho y a largo plazo de estos pacientes

BACKGROUND: We reviewed all cases of multiple primary melanoma diagnosed at our department over a 32-year period (1987-2019) to better characterize this subgroup of patients and develop a tailored protocol to offer them closer follow-up. METHODS: Retrospective, observational, descriptive study of patients diagnosed with multiple primary melanoma at a tertiary care hospital between January 1987 and March 2019. We collected clinical, epidemiologic, and histologic characteristics of primary and subsequent melanomas and performed a descriptive analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (15 men and 16 women) with a median age of 67 years (range, 36-85 years) were included. Second primary melanomas were diagnosed after a median of 2 years (range, 0-4 years). The median number of melanomas per patient was 2 (range, 2-6). Twenty-three of the 31 patients, 25 had 2 primary melanomas (80%), 4 had 3 melanomas (13%), and 2 patients each had 5 and 6 primary melanomas. Subsequent melanomas were less invasive than the initial primary melanomas. Median Breslow thickness was 1mm (range, 0.67-4 mm) for the first primary melanoma and 0.5mm (range, 0.32-2.42 mm) for subsequent melanomas. CONCLUSIONS: Subsequent melanomas are thinner than primary melanomas. We observed an increase in the number of cases of multiple primary melanoma diagnosed in the last 2 years of our study. Our findings highlight the importance of close, long-term follow-up of patients

Clinical and Histologic Features of Multiple Primary Melanoma in a Series of 31 Patients. / Características clínicas e histológicas del melanoma primario múltiple en una serie de 31 pacientes.

BACKGROUND: We reviewed all cases of multiple primary melanoma diagnosed at our department over a 32-year period (1987-2019) to better characterize this subgroup of patients and develop a tailored protocol to offer them closer follow-up. METHODS: Retrospective, observational, descriptive study of patients diagnosed with multiple primary melanoma at a tertiary care hospital between January 1987 and March 2019. We collected clinical, epidemiologic, and histologic characteristics of primary and subsequent melanomas and performed a descriptive analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (15 men and 16 women) with a median age of 67years (range, 36-85years) were included. Second primary melanomas were diagnosed after a median of 2years (range, 0-4years). The median number of melanomas per patient was 2 (range, 2-6). Twenty-three of the 31 patients, 25 had 2 primary melanomas (80%), 4 had 3 melanomas (13%), and 2 patients each had 5 and 6 primary melanomas. Subsequent melanomas were less invasive than the initial primary melanomas. Median Breslow thickness was 1mm (range, 0.67-4mm) for the first primary melanoma and 0.5mm (range, 0.32-2.42mm) for subsequent melanomas. CONCLUSIONS: Subsequent melanomas are thinner than primary melanomas. We observed an increase in the number of cases of multiple primary melanoma diagnosed in the last 2years of our study. Our findings highlight the importance of close, long-term follow-up of patients.