• Pei Ming Yeo, Ziying Vanessa Lim, Wei Ding Virlynn Tan, Xiahong Zhao, Hui Yi Chia, Suat Hoon Tan, TeoMelissa Ching ChingMCC, and Melissa Wee Ping Tan.
• National Skin Centre, Singapore.
• Ann Acad Med Singap. 2021 Jun 1; 50 (6): 456-466.

IntroductionMelanomas in Asians have different clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis from melanomas in Caucasians. This study reviewed the epidemiology and treatment outcomes of cutaneous melanoma diagnosed at a tertiary referral dermatology centre in Singapore, which has a multiracial population. The study also determined whether Asians had comparable relapse-free and overall survival periods to Caucasians in Singapore.MethodThis is a retrospective review of cutaneous melanoma cases in our centre between 1996 and 2015.ResultsSixty-two cases of melanoma were diagnosed in 61 patients: 72.6% occurred in Chinese, 19.4% in Caucasians and 3.2% in Indians, with an over-representation of Caucasians. Superficial spreading melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma and nodular melanoma comprised 37.1%, 35.5% and 22.6% of the cases, respectively. The median time interval to diagnosis was longer in Asians than Caucasians; median Breslow's thickness in Asians were significantly thicker than in Caucasians (2.6mm versus 0.9mm, P=0.018) and Asians tend to present at a later stage. The mortality rates for Asians and Caucasians were 52% and 0%, respectively.ConclusionMore physician and patient education on skin cancer awareness is needed in our Asian-predominant population for better outcomes.

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