Melanoma in Singapore: A 20-year review of disease and treatment outcomes.
10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2020535
- Author:
Pei Ming YEO
1
;
Ziying Vanessa LIM
;
Wei Ding Virlynn TAN
;
Xiahong ZHAO
;
Hui Yi CHIA
;
Suat Hoon TAN
;
Melissa Ching Ching TEO
;
Melissa Wee Ping TAN
Author Information
1. National Skin Centre, Singapore.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Humans;
Melanoma/therapy*;
Prognosis;
Retrospective Studies;
Singapore/epidemiology*;
Skin Neoplasms/therapy*;
Treatment Outcome
- From:Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
2021;50(6):456-466
- CountrySingapore
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
INTRODUCTION:Melanomas in Asians have different clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis from melanomas in Caucasians. This study reviewed the epidemiology and treatment outcomes of cutaneous melanoma diagnosed at a tertiary referral dermatology centre in Singapore, which has a multiracial population. The study also determined whether Asians had comparable relapse-free and overall survival periods to Caucasians in Singapore.
METHOD:This is a retrospective review of cutaneous melanoma cases in our centre between 1996 and 2015.
RESULTS:Sixty-two cases of melanoma were diagnosed in 61 patients: 72.6% occurred in Chinese, 19.4% in Caucasians and 3.2% in Indians, with an over-representation of Caucasians. Superficial spreading melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma and nodular melanoma comprised 37.1%, 35.5% and 22.6% of the cases, respectively. The median time interval to diagnosis was longer in Asians than Caucasians; median Breslow's thickness in Asians were significantly thicker than in Caucasians (2.6mm versus 0.9mm,
CONCLUSION:More physician and patient education on skin cancer awareness is needed in our Asian-predominant population for better outcomes.
