Lesion thickness is still the best predictor of prognosis of cutaneous malignant melanoma. In order to evaluate whether some benefit resulted from early diagnosis, cases of melanoma referred to St Luke Hospital, Montreal, Quebec from 1983 to 1993 were studied. The series was homogenous in that the recruitment staff, surgeon and dermatopathologist were the same for all cases. It was observed that, from 1983 to 1991 the thickness of malignant melanoma cases was about the same. In 1992 and 1993, relatively more thin cases versus very thick cases were detected. Further study is indicated.
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