Prognosis:

Staging and prognosis is based upon the depth of invasion and the presence or absence of distant metastasis

• For "thin" melanomas (less than 1mm depth), the survival rate for 5 years is approximately 90%
• In contrast, for "thick" melanomas (greater than 4mm depth), the 5-year survival rate decreases to less than 50%
• Finally, for "advanced" melanomas (metastases to other skin areas, lungs, brain, liver, or bone), the 5-year survival rate is dismal, approximately 5%