Eyelid melanoma: a population‐based comparative analysis of the lentigo, superficial spreading, and nodular subtypes

PurposeTo study the epidemiological and survival trends of the most common eyelid melanoma (EM) subtypes, which are lentigo melanoma (LM), superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) and Nodular Melanoma (NM).MethodsData were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results U.S. cancer database. Incidence (IR) data were available from 2000 to 2017 and were calculated in number of cases/million/year. IR trends across the study’s timeframe were assessed by measuring the annual percent change (APC). 5‐year overall survival (OS) was calculated over the timeframe 1973–2011 using the Kaplan‐Meier method.ResultsA total of 570 cases with known melanoma subtypes were identified. The most common subtype was LM (41.0%), followed by SSM (35.2%), then NM (13.8%). IR for LM (0.153) was statistically higher than for NM (0.051, p < 0.001), but not for SSM (0.130, p = 104). Mean diagnostic ages in years were statistically different: LM (72.16), SSM (64.12), NM (69. 72) [p < 0.001]. From 2000 to 2017, IR increased for LM (APC 3.17, p = 0.034) but did not significantly change for SSM and NM. 5‐year OS was significantly lower for NM (57.0%) as compared to that of LM (73.8%) and SSM (81.0%) [p < 0.001]. Older age was a negative prognostic factor for all subtypes as patients older than 85 years old had the worst survival compared to all other age groups (LM 34.6%, SSM 47.6% and NM 30.0%) [p < 0.01]. Females showed higher survival patterns than males in LM (81.4% and 66.7%, p = 0.03) and SSM (89.1% and 74.1%, p=0.008), but there were no gender survival differences for the NM subtype (p = 0.405). Race and stage did not significantly affect survival in any of the three subtypes.ConclusionsAmong EM subtypes, incidence is highest for LM and SSM. Mean diagnostic age is significantly lowest in SSM. NM subtype portends the worst prognosis. Older age is a negative prognostic factor for all subtypes, while male gender portends a negative prognosis only in LM and SSM. Race and stage did not impact survival outcomes.BibliographySurveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute SEER*Stat software (seer.cancer.gov/seerstat) version 8.3.6.