Introduction:

The percentage of melanomas associated with nevus (NM(+)) ranges from 20,6% to 53%. Some studies suggested that MN+ have the same or even better prognosis than those melanomas that are not nevus-associated. The latter are also called melanomas de novo (MN(-)).

Objective:

To compare clinical evolution and survival of patients with MN(-) and MN(+) at the University Private Hospital of Cordoba (Argentina), by analyzing sentinel lymph node status, disease-free survival at 1 and 5 years and 5-year melanoma specific mortality.

Methods:

This is a retrospective, transversal study of patients who were diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma from 2000 until 2015. The biopsy specimen was analyzed or revised by the hospital´s Department of Pathology.

Results:

Of 554 melanoma cases, 208 cutaneous melanomas were included in the study. The mean follow up was 2,44 (0,66- 5,35) years. MN(+) represented the 47,1% of cases and were significantly correlated with superficial spreading subtype, posterior trunk localization, regression, lower Breslow and Clark 2. 5-year disease-free survival was longer in patients with MN(+) and the absence of associated nevus was an independent risk factor. There were no differences in age, gender, tumor diameter, history of atypical mole syndrome, ulceration, mitosis, sentinel lymph node status, 1-year disease-free survival or 5-year melanoma specific mortality.