Breslow's depth

The tumor thickness according to Breslow (or Breslow level ), histological classification, to assess the stages of malignant melanoma and the derived prediction. Here in resected cancer tissue, the absolute thickness of the tumor tissue is measured from the stratum granulosum of the epidermis to the deepest yet detectable tumor tissue. The tumor thickness is then given in millimeters. In contrast to Clark level, tumor thickness according to Breslow is determined independently of the invasion of various skin layers.

The tumor thickness is divided into five different areas according to the original system of Breslow:

• < 0.75 mm
• 0.76 to 1.49 mm
• 1.50 to 2.49 mm
• 2.50 to 3.49 mm
• > 3.5 mm.

The Breslow level is the most important prognostic aspect of a malignant melanoma. At the lowest level of the tumor thickness (< 0.75 mm ), the five-year survival rate is more than 90 percent.

This classification system was named after the American pathologist Alexander Breslow, who published it in 1970 for the first time.