G. Argenziano et al., Clinical and dermatoscopic criteria for the preoperative evaluation of cutaneous melanoma thickness, J AM ACAD D, 40(1), 1999, pp. 61-68
Background: Melanoma thickness measured according to the Breslow method is
used to determine surgical margin and in patient selection for sentinel nod
e biopsy. Previous studies did not confirm the reliability of melanoma palp
ability for clinical prediction of tumor thickness. Recently we reported th
e usefulness of epiluminescence microscopy (dermatoscopy) for in vivo detec
tion of the phases of melanoma progression, as well as tumor depth.
Objective: Our purpose was to determine whether the combination of clinical
and dermatoscopic criteria could increase the accuracy in preoperative eva
luation of melanoma thickness with respect to the clinical elevation and de
rmatoscopic assessments considered separately.
Methods: In a blind retrospective study, 122 cutaneous melanomas were studi
ed to evaluate the presence of several clinical and dermatoscopic criteria
and their relation with the histologic thickness. An algorithm of combined
criteria was constructed and statistically assessed.
Results: Combinations of palpability, diameter of more than 15 mm, pigment
network, gray-blue areas, and atypical vascular pattern allowed correct pre
diction of thickness in 89% of melanomas when categorized in two groups of
less than 0.76 mm and more than 0.75 mm thickness, compared with 75% using
palpability, and 80% using dermatoscopic criteria. Lower values were obtain
ed in the further subdivision of melanomas into groups of 0.76 to 1.5 mm an
d more than 1.5 mm thickness.
Conclusion: The combination of clinical and dermatoscopic criteria is a mor
e precise guide for the preoperative evaluation of melanoma thickness than
either is alone. However, further studies are needed to verify its applicab
ility in establishing the surgical approach to cutaneous melanoma.