Follow-up of patients with a thin melanoma

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the value of follow-up in two subgroups of patients with a thin melanoma less than 0.76 mm and 0.76-1.5 mm thick. Methods: The study group comprised all patients presenting to the Cardiff Melanoma Clinic from its introduction in 1976 to the end of 1994. All patients attend follow-up according to a strict protocol, determined by the thickness of the original melanoma (less than 0.76 mm, annually; more than 0.76 mm, every 2 months for 2 years, 3 monthly for 2 years, 4 monthly for 1 year and then annually). Results: In total there were 306 patients with a thin melanoma: 178 with a melanoma thinner than 0.76 mm (group 1) and 128 with a melanoma of 0.76-1.5 mm (group 2). The groups were well matched for age (mean 50.6 (range 8-87) versus 50.6 (range 19-89) years respectively) and length of follow-up (mean 88.6 (range 4-296) versus 80.4 (range 2-296) months). Four patients (2.2 per cent) developed recurrence in group 1 and 16 (12.5 per cent) in group 2. The mean time to recurrence was 84.5 (range 49-143) months in group 1 and 45.3 (range 2-74) months in group 2. All patients in group 1 and 14 of 16 in group 2 died from recurrent disease. Conclusion: Follow-up of patients with a melanoma less than 0.76 mm thick is not worthwhile. All recurrences would have been detected by annual review for 7 years in patients with melanomas between 0.76 and 1.5 mm thick.