Scalp melanoma: Distinctive high risk clinical and histological features

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Scalp melanoma has a worse prognosis than melanoma elsewhere, though the reasons for this are poorly understood. Current literature describing the clinicopathological associations of scalp melanoma is sparse. This study aims to compare clinical and histological features of scalp melanoma with other cutaneous head and neck melanomas (CHNM). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed of all primary CHNM cases seen by the Victorian Melanoma Service between 1994 and 2014, using prospectively recorded clinical data. Invasive and in situ melanomas were compared separately. RESULTS: Invasive scalp melanoma was associated with male sex (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.9-3.9), increasin..