COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PREOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS IN SKIN MELANOMA

Abstract

Introduction: Taking into account the increase in incidence and high mortality in advanced stages, early diagnosis is a prerequisite for successful treatment of melanoma. The aim of this study was to determine the concordance between dermatological (withdermoscopy), surgical and pathohistological diagnosis in patients with a suspicious finding of skin melanoma. Material and methods: A comparison between the clinical and pathohistological diagnosisof patients of both sexes, of all ages, with a referral diagnosis of skin melanoma was made. Results: Out of a total of 535 analyzed cases, 469 (87.5%) had preoperative dermato logical findings. In 329 of these patients the referral diagnosis was in favor of melanoma. In 140 cases with a dermatological finding other than melanoma, a pathohistological finding of melanoma was obtained, 30% with a dermatological finding.In addition to melanoma, in 289 cases out of 329 cases with dermatological findings a pathohistological finding for melanoma was obtained, and in 40 cases a pathohistological finding other than melanoma was obtained. Of 66 cases without dermatological findings, 27 patients with a surgical diagnosis other than melanoma were operated on, with a pathohistological finding for melanoma - 41%. With a diagnosis of melanoma without prior dermatological examination, 39 cases were operated on, of which in 12 cases the pathohistological finding was in support of melanoma. Of 58 patients who underwent dermoscopy, 78% had a matching dermoscopic and pa thohistological diagnosis. Conclusion: The results of this study showed a high percentage of erroneous preope rative diagnoses