Predicting the development of brain metastases in patients with local/regional melanoma Journal Article


Authors: Frankel, T. L.; Bamboat, Z. M.; Ariyan, C.; Coit, D.; Sabel, M. S.; Brady, M. S.
Article Title: Predicting the development of brain metastases in patients with local/regional melanoma
Abstract: Background The brain is a common site of recurrence in melanoma patients. Brain recurrence may present as a seizure, hemorrhage, or death. We sought to determine predictors of brain metastases in patients with primary and regional melanoma in order to facilitate targeted screening. Methods Prospectively maintained databases were used to identify patients treated for local or regional melanoma who developed stage IV melanoma with and without brain metastasis at initial recurrence. One hundred twenty patients were identified with brain relapse and compared to 487 patients without brain recurrence. Results On univariate analysis, patients with brain metastases were younger (55 vs. 59yrs, P = 0.04) but did not differ in primary site (head and neck 23% vs. 21%, P = 0.20). Brain metastasis patients had thinner primaries (mean 3.4 vs. 4.5 mm, P = 0.01). There were no other pathologic differences including ulceration (55% vs. 53%, P = 0.75), mitoses (7 vs.7.5, P = 0.61) or histologic subtype. Younger age and decreased Breslow thickness were independently associated with brain metastases at stage IV recurrence (OR = 1.10 P = 0.01 and OR = 1.02 P = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions Our analysis, the largest to date, demonstrates that thinner Breslow depth and younger age were associated with brain recurrence at first presentation with Stage IV disease. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Keywords: melanoma; brain; metastases
Journal Title: Journal of Surgical Oncology
Volume: 109
Issue: 8
ISSN: 0022-4790
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 2014-06-01
Start Page: 770
End Page: 774
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/jso.23574
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 24862924
DOI/URL:
Notes: J. Surg. Oncol. -- Export Date: 2 June 2014 -- CODEN: JSONA -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Mary Sue Brady
    203 Brady
  2. Charlotte Eielson Ariyan
    154 Ariyan
  3. Daniel Coit
    542 Coit
  4. Zubin Mickey Bamboat
    33 Bamboat