Diagnosis & Staging
Breslow thickness and Ulceration predict survival
Breslow depth and Ulceration impact on survival
Key to graph
Breslow depths are shown in millimeters next to the corresponding lines and are colour coded
Solid Line denotes non ulcerated survival curve
Dotted Line denotes ulcerated tumour survival time for the same (coloured) Breslow depth
Interpretation
Tumours of greater Breslow depth are more likely to invade lymphatic or blood vessels allowing a route of passage for distant spread. Survival is accordingly shorter in such cases.
Ulceration is equivalent to having a thicker, more advanced tumour
A tumour of the same Breslow depth which ulcerates the skin under which it lies is likely to be aggressive and therefore behaves like a tumour of a greater depth. The graph demonstrates that ulceration can be said to almost increase the Breslow thickness by one category in the study shown.