Services on Demand
Article
Indicators
Related links
- Cited by Google
- Similars in Google
Share
South African Journal of Surgery
On-line version ISSN 2078-5151
Print version ISSN 0038-2361
S. Afr. j. surg. vol.48 n.3 Cape Town Aug. 2010
GENERAL SURGERY
Malignant melanoma of the skin in black South Africans: A 15-year experience
J. V. LodderI; W. SimsonII; P. J. BeckerIII
IM.Med. (surg.). Department of Surgery, University of Pretoria
IIM.D., F.R.C. (path.). Department of Anatomical Pathology, University of Pretoria
IIIM.Sc., Ph.D. Medical Research Council, Pretoria
ABSTRACT
AIM: To document the anatomical distribution of melanoma, extent of disease, results of treatment and survival among black patients in the north-eastern part of South Africa.
METHODS: All available histological material was reviewed. All available addresses of patients were consulted to establish the status of patients treated in the drainage areas of, or referred to, Kalafong Hospital or Pretoria Academic Hospital retrospectively and prospectively for the 15-year period 1969 - 1983.
RESULTS: Of the 185 patients with melanoma who were documented, 10 were eliminated for various reasons. Among the remaining 175 patients there were 128 documented deaths, 35 patients having died of melanoma within 1 year of presentation. Thirty patients survived for more than 3 years.
Because of late presentation and the nature of the disease, malignant melanoma has a very poor prognosis in black patients in South Africa.
“Full text available only in PDF format”
REFERENCES
1. Black WC, Wiggins C. Melanoma among south-western American Indians. Cancer 1985; 55: 2899-2902. [ Links ]
2. Rippey JJ, Rippey E. Epidemiology of malignant melanoma of the skin in South Africa. S Afr Med F 1984; 65: 595-598. [ Links ]
3. Ogunbiyi TAJ, Adedeji SA. Malignant melanoma of the skin in Lagos. Experience in an urban African community. Mater Med Pol 1978; 2: 146-149. [ Links ]
4. Rippey JJ, Rippey E, Giraud RMA. Pathology of malignant melanoma of the skin in black Africans. S Afr Med F 1975; 49: 789-792. [ Links ]
5. Parker DC, Solomon AR. Revised staging system for cutaneous melanoma: implications for pathologists and dermatologists. Adv Anat Path 2003; 10: 238-240. [ Links ]
6. Suseelan AV, Gupta IM. Malignant melanoma in Nigeria - pathological studies. Afr F Med Sci 1977; 6: 209-213. [ Links ]
7. Shaw JHF, Koea JB. Acral (volar-subungual) melanoma in Auckland, New Zealand. Br F Surg 1988; 75: 69-72. [ Links ]
8. Gervasoni JE, Tanefa C, Chung MA, Cady B. Biologic and clinical significance of lymphadenectomy. Surg Clin North Am 2000; 80; 1631-1673. [ Links ]
9. Russell RCG. Malignant melanoma. Br F Surg 1986; 73: 773-774. [ Links ]
10. Flook D, Horgan K, Taylor BA, Hughes LE. Surgery for malignant melanoma: from which limb should the graft be taken? Br F Surg 1986; 73: 793-795. [ Links ]
11. Aitkin DR, James AG, Carey LC. Local cutaneous recurrence after conservative excision of malignant melanoma. Arch Surg 1984; 119: 643-646. [ Links ]
12. Fisher JC. Safe margins for melanoma excision. Ann Plastic Surg 1985; 14: 158-161. [ Links ]
13. Schoeman BJ. Die tensor fascia lata miokutane flap in rekonstruksie van inguinale veldefekte na radikale limfadenektomie. S Afr F Surg 1995; 33: 175-178. [ Links ]
14. Adams CM, Giltman LI. Elective lymph node dissection in stage 1 melanoma - necessary or not? Am Surg 1985; 51: 504-507. [ Links ]
15. Cochran AJ. The biology and treatment of malignant melanoma. Eur F Cancer 1976; 12: 585-594. [ Links ]
16. Reintgen D, Balch CM, Kirkwood J. Recent advances in the care of the patient with malignant melanoma. Ann Surg 1997; 225: 1-14. [ Links ]
17. Shaw JHF. Malignant melanoma in Auckland, New Zealand. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1988; 166: 425-430. [ Links ]
18. Ariel IM. Theories regarding the cause of malignant melanoma. Surg Gynecol Obstet,1980; 150: 911-912. [ Links ]
19. Lewis MG, Johnson K. The incidence and distribution of pigmented naevi in Ugandan Africans. Br F Cancer 1967; 21: 483-495. [ Links ]
20. Otu AA. Thom injury preceding malignant melanoma of foot in Nigeria (Letter). Lancet 1985; 1(8422): 220-221. [ Links ]
21. Coleman WP, Gately LE, Krementz AB, et al. Nevi, lentiginous and melanomas in blacks. Arch Dermatol 1980; 116: 548-551. [ Links ]
22. ColemanWP, Lona PR, Reed RJ, Krements ET. Acral lentiginous melanoma. Arch Dermatol 1980; 116: 773-776. [ Links ]
23. Gordon JA, Sheelin AH. Pigmentation of the sole of the foot in Rhodesian Africans. S Afr Med F 1971; 45(4): 88-91. [ Links ]
24. Collins RJ. Melanoma in the Chinese of Hong Kong. Cancer 1984; 54: 1482-1483. [ Links ]
25. Lendon AH, Bennett RC. Malignant melanoma in an Aboriginal. Med F Aust 1972; 2: 1486-1487. [ Links ]
26. Krementz ET, Reed RJ, Coleman WP, et al. Acral lentiginous melanoma. Ann Surg 1982; 195: 632-645. [ Links ]
27. Bear HD, Neifeld JP, Kay S. Prognosis of level V malignant melanoma. Cancer 1985; 55: 1167-1171. [ Links ]
28. Krementz ET, Sutherland CM, Carter RD, Ryan RF. Malignant melanoma in the American black. Ann Surg 1976; 183: 533-542. [ Links ]
29. Seiji M., Takahashi M. Acral melanoma in Japan. Hum Pathol 1982; 13: 607-609. [ Links ]
30. Jonk A, Kroon BBR, Rumke P, et al. Results of radical dissection of the groin in patients with stage II melanoma and histologically proved metastases of the iliac or obturator lymph nodes, or both. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1988; 167: 28-32. [ Links ]
31. Reintgen DS, McCarty KM, Cox E, Seigler HF. Malignant melanoma in black American and white American populations. FAMA 1982; 248: 1856-1859. [ Links ]