Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with malignant melanoma attending a referral skin tumors clinic in Iran: A 5-year study

Malignant melanoma is one of the most lethal skin tumors. Its prevalence and demographic specifications are different in European and western countries from those in the Middle East. This study was aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of malignant melanoma in Iran. In this cross-sectional study، the patients with the diagnosis of malignant melanoma who atteneded the tumor clinic of Razi Hospital، Tehran، Iran were included. Demographic and clinical data were registered in specific questionnaires. Histopathology findings were also recorded in the questionnaires. A total of 2500 patients attending tumor clinic of Razi Hospital were evaluated. Out of them، 166 cases had malignant melanoma including 89 (53. 6%) females and 77 males (46. 4%). The mean age of patients 60. 5 years. History of chronic sun exposure was found in 65 (39. 2%) cases. Mean delay time between commencement of lesion and diagnosis was 9 months. The most common histopathologic type was acral lentiginous and the most common observed stage of tumor was Clark 3. The most common frequent observed tumor site was head and neck which was followed by limbs. Malignant melanoma is common in patients with skin tumors in Iran. Considering morbidity and mortality of malignant melanoma and the relatively high stages of tumors، at the fist time the patients sought medical care، screening programs seems to be necessary to find the patients in earlier stages، as well as the mass education. Some of our findings such as the most common location of the tumors، family history and relation with dysplastic naevies، remain to be confirmed in studies with larger sample sizes.