Cutaneous Melanoma in the Elderly: Review of a Growing Problem

Actas Dermosifiliogr (Engl Ed). 2019 Jul-Aug;110(6):434-447. doi: 10.1016/j.ad.2018.11.009. Epub 2019 May 14.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) causes more deaths than any other skin tumor, and incidence and mortality rates have risen in recent years, especially in patients of advanced age. There are differences in the biological behavior of CM tumors in the elderly as well as differential management of the disease, evidently influenced by such factors as limited life expectancy, the high incidence of concomitant conditions in older patients, and issues of quality of life unrelated to CM itself. We review relevant current literature on the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, and immunology of CM as well as research on the clinical features, prevention, and management of these tumors in the elderly.

Keywords: Anciano; Cirugía; Elderly; Ganglio centinela; Health services for the aged; Melanoma; Prognosis; Pronóstico; Review; Revisión; Sentinel lymph node; Servicio de salud para el anciano; Surgery.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Comorbidity
  • Delayed Diagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunocompetence
  • Immunotherapy
  • Incidence
  • Lymph Node Excision
  • Male
  • Melanoma / epidemiology*
  • Melanoma / etiology
  • Melanoma / prevention & control
  • Melanoma / therapy
  • Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
  • Population Dynamics
  • SEER Program
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
  • Skin Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / etiology
  • Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Skin Neoplasms / therapy
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • United States / epidemiology