Prognostic significance of melanoma arising in the scalp.

Thirty-five patients with stage I melanoma of the scalp were retrospectively reviewed and compared with similar patients with melanoma of the extremity and trunk. Patients with melanoma of the scalp were predominantly male. The 5-year survival rate was 89 percent. This compared favorably with similar patients with melanoma arising either in the trunk or the extremity. The prognosis of patients with stage I melanoma of the scalp is no worse than that of patients with melanoma arising in the trunk or extremity; therefore, they should be treated in a comparable manner.