Malignant melanoma is a very malignant tumor arising from melanocytes or its antecedents.
Because of the black pigment, this disease has been referred to as "black cancer" The first written account of melanotic lesion is attributed to Hippocrates in fifth century before Christ.
In 1836, Carswell first used the term melanoma to designate these pigmented malignant neoplasm.
Since discussion of the pathology of tumor and suggestion of the method of treatment was reported by W. S. Handley, many papers were reported about -various method of treatment for malignant melanoma.
In 1969, W.H. Clark´s report showed the Histogenesis and biologic behavior of primary human malignant melanoma and proposed leveling of microinvasion of melanoma.
Authors reviewed the patients with malignant melanoma who were admitted and treated in Yonsei University Medical center during a period between 1965 to 1976 and evaluated clinical patterns, management and histologic patterns.
There had been 30 cases of malignant melanoma in that period.
The following results were obtained;
1) Males were affected about 1.1 times more than females.
2) The most frequent age group was fifth decade. Mean age was about 45 yrs. More than 60% of cases are over 40 yrs of age.
3) Most frequent site was head and neck(40%), and next was lower extremity (36.6%).
4) Melanoma occurred on lower extremity was more common under 50 yrs of age.
5) Size of tumor was most common over 4cm in diameter(26_ 7%). As increase of tumor size, longer duration of symptoms and more frequent metastasis were noted.
6) As increase of tumor size, metastasis of regional lymph node and remoteorgan was more frequently occurred and depth of microinvasion of tumor cell by Clark´s level was more deepened.
7) As increase of depth of microinvasion by Clark´s level, more frequent nodular type of malignant melanoma was reported.
8) Treatment of malignant melanoma was almostly inadquate except clinical stage 1 malignant melanoma.
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