Acral Melanomas Represent a Rare but Potentially Aggressive Form of Melanoma

Unlike other more common forms of melanoma, AMs occur in all ethnic groups.

Acral melanoma (AM) is the least common of four subtypes of cutaneous melanoma (approximately 2% to 10% of all melanoma cases). It is however, the most common cutaneous melanoma in dark-skinned patients. To characterize factors associated with the poor survival outcomes in patients with AM, investigators at a single cancer center compared 281 patients with AM and 843 patients with other nonacral cutaneous melanomas (NACMs) of the extremities (14% and 0% nonwhite, respectively).

The 5-year survival rate was 70% in AM patients and 83% in NACM patients. Breslow thickness, Clark level, positive margin status, sentinel lymph node (SLN) positivity, higher pathologic stage, and ulceration were all significantly associated with reduced disease-speci…

Reviewing Author

Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD

Disclosures

Consultant / advisory board Lubax; WorldCare Clinical

EquityLubax

Grant / Research support NIH; Department of Defense; American Skin Association; Piramal

Editorial boardsBritish Journal of Dermatology; Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology; Journal of Investigative Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Chair, Skin Cancer and Melanoma Committee); American Board of Dermatology (Director)