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Results
There were 108 eligible cases in the 4-year time period in which tumor volume assessment could be determined based on the pathology report in conjunction with Breslow depth, mitotic index, presence or absence of ulceration, and tumor infiltrating response. Breslow depth ranged from 0.20 to 10.00 mm, with a median depth of 1.37 mm. Surface area ranged from 12.00 to 1720.00 mm2 (median, 100.00 mm2). Tumor volume was calculated by multiplying Breslow depth by surface area and ranged from 2.76 to 11,180.00 mm3 (median, 113.05 mm3)(Table 1). Ulceration was present in 18.69% of the tumors, 20.37% exhibited a brisk inflammatory host reaction, and 53.27% had a mitotic index of 1/mm2 or more. Tumor metastasis was noted in 40.74% (44/108) of patients (Table 2), all of whom had a primary melanoma with a Breslow depth greater than 1 mm. Only one T1 melanoma had a tumor volume greater than 250 mm3. Metastasis in patients with T2 (1- to 2-mm thick) and T3 (2- to 4-mm thick) melanoma was associated with a tumor volume greater than 250 mm3 in 16 of 26 patients (61.54%), and all 18 patients with T4 melanomas (>4-mm thick) had tumor volume greater than 250 mm3.
