A STUDY OF THIN (LESS-THAN-1.5 MM) MALIGNANT MELANOMAS WITH POOR-PROGNOSIS

555 cases of malignant melanoma less than 1. 5 mm in depth were studie d. 30 recurred locally or metastasised during follow-up. The width and depth of excision was similar in those with and without recurrence. T here were no local recurrences in tumours < 1.0 mm which had been comp letely excised, irrespective of the width of excision. Other variables , the size of the primary tumour (p < 0.03), the depth of uninvolved d ermis deep to the lesion (p < 0.01), the Clark level (p < 0.03) and th e presence of lesional regression (p < 0.001), identify a sub-group of thin melanomas which have a poor prognosis irrespective of local trea tment.