Melanoma of the lower extremities: foot site is an independent risk factor for clinical outcome.

BACKGROUND

Despite the better prognosis of melanomas localized on lower extremities, some studies have suggested that melanomas on the foot are related to a poorer survival and should be considered separately.

OBJECTIVE

To review our case series of cutaneous melanomas on the lower extremities and to analyze the clinicopathological association, time course, types of progression, and survival differences.

METHODS

We included 1671 patients (stage 0-II) with a cutaneous melanoma on the lower extremities (subungual melanomas were excluded). Of these, 327 were localized on the foot. Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate disease-specific survival and disease-free interval.

RESULTS

Distribution of known prognostic factors and patterns of progression of foot and leg melanoma differ across genders. The foot site was confirmed as a negative independent prognostic factor on disease-specific survival and disease-free interval.

CONCLUSION

Foot melanoma could represent a particular subgroup, which could require specific management in the future.