Prediction of melanoma metastasis by the Shields index based on lymphatic vessel density

BMC Cancer

Table 1 Comparison of the metastatic and non-metastatic patient groups.

	Age (years)	Breslow Thickness (mm)	Time Since Excision of Primary Lesion (months)	Clarks Level
Metastatic	57.23 ± 17.4	2.4 ± 1.6	53 ± 36	4.06 ± 0.26
Non-metastatic	55.63 ± 16.4	1.911 ± 1.4	92 ± 36	4.05 ± 0.37

There was no significant difference between metastatic and non-metastatic patient groups, in patient age (p > 0.05, one-way ANOVA, Bonferroni), Breslow thickness (p = 0.17 Mann Whitney U test), or Clarks level (p > 0.05, one-way ANOVA, Bonferroni). Mean follow up time (time since excision of primary tumour) was significantly longer in the non-metastatic group, compared with metastatic group (p < 0.0001 unpaired t test). All results represent mean ± s.d.

ISSN: 1471-2407