Thicker Tumors Linked to Higher Risk of Melanoma-Related Death
Source: Cancer Therapy Advisor, December 2024
(HealthDay News) — The risk of melanoma-related death is greater for patients with primary tumors that are 0.8-1.0 mm thick than for patients with thinner tumors, according to a study published in JAMA Dermatology.
Researchers analyzed registry data for 144,447 Australians diagnosed with thin, invasive primary melanomas between 1982 and 2014 to determine if Breslow thickness subcategory is associated with melanoma-related deaths and nonmelanoma-related deaths. The median follow-up was 15.0 years.
The crude incidence rate of melanoma-related death 20 years after diagnosis was 6.3% overall, 6.0% for tumors thinner than 0.8 mm, and 12.0% for tumors measuring 0.8-1.0 mm.