Melanoma : Mitotic Activity

Mitotic activity appears to be an independent and a more robust prognostic indicator in melanomas than the presence/absence of ulceration or the tumor thickness. It has therefore been incorporated into the AJCC staging system. It is evaluated in the most mitotically active area of the tumor and is expressed as the number of mitotic figures/1 sq.mm of the tumor. Tumors with high mitotic rate are associated with poor prognosis.