RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Distance from Primary Tumor Is the Strongest Predictor for Early Onset of Brain Metastases in Melanoma
JF Anticancer Research
JO Anticancer Res
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 3065
OP 3069
VO 36
IS 6
A1 ESZTER GORKA
A1 DÁNIEL FABÓ
A1 ANDRÁS GÉZSI
A1 KATA CZIRBESZ
A1 GABRIELLA LISZKAY
YR 2016
UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/36/6/3065.abstract
AB Background/Aim: The frequency of brain metastasis (BM) is up to 45-50% in patients with advanced melanoma. Our aim was to identify the risk factors for the early occurrence of BM. Patients and Methods: A total of 333 patients with BM were identified from our database of 2,972 patients with melanoma between 2003-2015. Results: The median elapsed time to BM (TTBM) was significantly associated with Breslow thickness, ulceration, location, and patient age. Head and neck location was the strongest predictor for early BM development [hazard ratio (HR)=1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.05-3.12; p=0.031) followed by Breslow thickness >2 mm (HR=1.53, 95% CI=1.04-2.23; p=0.027). Body part-specific median TTBM was 51.5, 43, 38.5, 32, 35, 36.5, 35.5 and 19 months in leg-foot, thigh, abdomen-pelvic, chest-back, lower arm-hand, upper arm-shoulder, face-neck and scalp regions, respectively. Conclusion: We suggest brain magnetic resonance imaging follow-up in the high-risk patient group of patients with melanoma in the head and neck region, especially for those with primary melanoma over Breslow 2 mm located in the scalp.