Epidemiology
The incidence of melanoma is steadily increasing at a rate greater than any other form of cancer. In 1930 the lifetime risk of developing melanoma in the United States was 1 in 1,500, currently 1 person in 75 are at risk. In Europe the highest incidence rates have been reported in Scandinavia (about 15 cases per 100 000 inhabitants per year) and the lowest in the Mediterranean countries (about five to seven cases per 100 000 inhabitants per year). Now it is currently estimated that there are 10 new cases per 100000. In Italy during the early ‘90 the annual incidence was about 4 new cases per 100000 inhabitants. The annual increase in incidence rate variesbetween populations, but in general has been about 3-7% per year for Caucasian populations. The reasons are not entirely clear, but changes in lifestyle with intense and intermittent sun exposure (often caused by the obsession of the perfect tan), the use of UV lamps and holidays in sunny countries during the winter are likely to be responsable. The survival rate of 5 years in the United States rose from 67% in ’75, to ’82% in ’94 men and older individuals have higher mortality rates than women and younger individuals. However recent data suggests that mortality rates may have begun to stabilize or to decline. This is due to an early diagnosis, thanks to modern techniques such as dermatoscopy. With melanoma prevention campaigns and public education, we can expect decline in incidence of new cases of melanoma
**M.B. Lens; M. Dawes: Epidemiological Trends of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma: Incidence of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
Melanoma epidemiology. Website by Dott Nicola Angelotti, Dermatologist, Massa, Italy: E mail: dermatologo@virgilio.it
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