Background: Although previous studies identify gender differences in melanoma, limited research on the phenomenon exists.Methods: In this retrospective chart review, 1,156 adults diagnosed with melanoma, between 2006-2016, at the University of Colorado were included. Breslow depth, mitotic rate, ulceration status, and location were extracted from charts between March and August 2016. Cochran-Armitage trend tests and cumulative logistic regression were used to examine the association between gender and Breslow depth, univariately and after adjusting for potential confounders.

Results: In univariate analysis, males were significantly more likely to present with lesions with higher Breslow depths (p for trend=0.005). In models adjusted for age, melanoma subtype, and location, males were marginally more likely to present with lesions with higher Breslow depths (cumulative OR: 1.261, 95% CI: 0.988-1.611, p=0.060). Males were also marginally more likely to present with lesions with higher mitotic rates, after further adjustments for all other prognostic factors (cumulative OR: 1.244, 95% CI: 0.979-1.580, p=0.074).

Limitations: This was a retrospective single-institution study.

Conclusion: Differences in mitotic rates among melanomas in males versus females, even after adjustments for all other prognostic factors, suggests that biological differences may contribute to the female prognosis advantage.

Introduction: Numerous studies report a correlation between distance to diagnostic provider in an academic medical center and poorer prognosis ofdisease. Limited research on this topic exists with respect to melanoma.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 1,463 adults (≥18 years) initially diagnosed with melanoma between 2006-2016. Associations between distance traveled and Breslow depth and presence of metastatic disease were assessed via cumulative and binary logistic regression models, adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics.

Results: Subjects traveling ≥50 miles had 58% greater odds of having an increased Breslow depth than those traveling less than that distance (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.24-2.01; p<0.0001), and had four times the odds of presenting with metastatic disease (OR: 4.04; 95% CI: 3.00-5.46; p<0.0001).

Discussion: We highlight the correlation between increased distance to our academic medical center with greater Breslow depths and the presence ofmetastatic disease at presentation.

Conclusion: Future studies assessing other factors and regional differences that limit access to diagnosis might help improve screening efforts to prevent poorer prognosis for patients in these areas.