Background: Despite the better prognosis of melanomas localized on lower extremities, some studies have suggested that melanomas on the foot are related to a poorer survival and should be considered separately.
Objective: To review our case series of cutaneous melanomas on the lower extremities and to analyze the clinicopathological association, time course, types of progression, and survival differences.
Methods: We included 1671 patients (stage 0-II) with a cutaneous melanoma on the lower extremities (subungual melanomas were excluded). Of these, 327 were localized on the foot. Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate disease-specific survival and disease-free interval.
Results: Distribution of known prognostic factors and patterns of progression of foot and leg melanoma differ across genders. The foot site was confirmed as a negative independent prognostic factor on disease-specific survival and disease-free interval.
Conclusion: Foot melanoma could represent a particular subgroup, which could require specific management in the future.
© 2015 The International Society of Dermatology.