Resumen
Melanoma is clinicopathologically a heterogeneous disease with rising incidence. Metastatic disease is associated with poor outcomes, and immunotherapy was first approved in 2011 for its treatment. In our analysis of a large national database, we describe the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and survival outcomes of cutaneous, ocular, and mucosal melanoma in recent years. Metastatic cutaneous melanoma had better survival than both metastatic ocular and mucosal melanoma. We found higher odds of metastatic disease at diagnosis amongst African Americans compared to Caucasians. Additionally, for metastatic cases, we noted 25% lower mortality in those treated at an academic facility compared to community cancer programs and a 20% real-world survival benefit following approval of immunotherapy. This real-world survival benefit was definitely seen in Caucasians and those with cutaneous or mucosal melanoma. Further investigation is needed to confirm this benefit in African Americans and ocular melanoma.