悪性黒色腫の新TNM分類と解説, ならびに新病期による統計 (1992～1996年)

The TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours was revised by the International Union Against Cancer in 2002. The modifications include the addition of the presence/absence of ulceration, more detailed differentiation of tumor thickness, both microscopic and macroscopic regional lymph node metastasis, lung metastasis under distant metastasis, and abnormal LDH levels as prognostic factors, thereby considerably increasing the complexity of the classification system. In this paper, we comment on the new TNM Classification for malignant melanoma and present the results of a review of a statistical investigation of malignant melanoma (1992 to 1996) based on the new staging system. It was found that the survival rate generally corresponded to the extent of disease progression. [Skin Cancer (Japan) 2002; 17: 113-118]