{"id":6237,"date":"2011-11-16T10:15:25","date_gmt":"2011-11-16T09:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T11:39:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T10:39:19","slug":"melanoma-prognostic-factors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/staging-of-melanoma\/melanoma-prognostic-factors\/","title":{"rendered":"Prognostic factors"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"im26-diagnosis-guide\">\n<nav class=\"im26-dg-toc\" aria-label=\"On this page\"><strong>On this page<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#guide-section-1\">Main factors<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#guide-section-2\">Other pathology findings<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#guide-section-3\">Clinical situation and treatment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#guide-section-4\">How to use statistics<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<section id=\"guide-section-1\" class=\"im26-dg-section\">\n<h2>Main factors<\/h2>\n<p>Breslow thickness, ulceration and spread to lymph nodes or other sites contribute to assessment. They inform staging and must be interpreted together rather than as separate predictions.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"guide-section-2\" class=\"im26-dg-section\">\n<h2>Other pathology findings<\/h2>\n<p>Mitoses, microsatellites, invasion of vessels, regression and lymphocytic infiltration may provide additional information. Their meaning depends on context; one finding cannot be used to calculate how a person\u2019s disease will progress.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"guide-section-3\" class=\"im26-dg-section\">\n<h2>Clinical situation and treatment<\/h2>\n<p>The doctor also considers disease sites, general health and treatment response. In advanced disease, findings such as LDH may be relevant. Molecular tests, including BRAF when appropriate, can help guide treatment choices; they do not independently predict survival.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"guide-section-4\" class=\"im26-dg-section\">\n<h2>How to use statistics<\/h2>\n<p>Ask which patient group, period and treatment a statistic describes. Historical percentages from the previous version have not been retained because automatically applying them to a person today would be misleading. Bring your complete report and questions to the consultation.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<aside class=\"im26-dg-related\">\n<h2>Continue reading<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/staging-of-melanoma\/\">Staging and prognosis<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/staging-of-melanoma\/breslow-index\/\">Breslow index<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/istopatologia-del-melanoma\/\">Histopathology of melanoma<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-sources\">\n<h2>Sources and update<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/types\/skin\/hp\/melanoma-treatment-pdq\" rel=\"noopener\">National Cancer Institute \u2014 Melanoma, health professional PDQ<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/types\/skin\/patient\/melanoma-treatment-pdq\" rel=\"noopener\">National Cancer Institute \u2014 Melanoma treatment, PDQ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Editorial update: 16 October 2026. This information provides guidance and does not replace a medical assessment.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prognosis depends on the combined features of the melanoma and the clinical situation, not on one number in a report.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"parent":5660,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6237","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Prognostic factors<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Despite\u00a0the increased incidence of melanoma, the prognosis has improved markedly\u00a0in the last 20 years and this is due to an early diagnosis, in fact\u00a0more and more superficial melanomas are removed.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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