The Danish Melanoma Database

Abstract

Aim of databaseThe aim of the database is to monitor and improve the treatment and survival of melanoma patients.Study populationAll Danish patients with cutaneous melanoma and in situ melanomas must be registered in the Danish Melanoma Database (DMD). In 2014, 2,525 patients with invasive melanoma and 780 with in situ tumors were registered. The coverage is currently 93% compared with the Danish Pathology Register.Main variablesThe main variables include demographic, clinical, and pathological characteristics, including Breslow’s tumor thickness, ± ulceration, mitoses, and tumor–node–metastasis stage. Information about the date of diagnosis, treatment, type of surgery, including safety margins, results of lymphoscintigraphy in patients for whom this was indicated (tumors > T1a), results of sentinel node biopsy, pathological evaluation hereof, and follow-up information, including recurrence, nature, and treatment hereof is registered. In case of death, the cause and date are included. Currently, all data are entered manually; however, data catchment from the existing registries is planned to be included shortly.Descriptive dataThe DMD is an old research database, but new as a clinical quality register. The coverage is high, and the performance in the five Danish regions is quite similar due to strong adherence to guidelines provided by the Danish Melanoma Group. The list of monitored indicators is constantly expanding, and annual quality reports are issued. Several important scientific studies are based on DMD data.ConclusionDMD holds unique detailed information about tumor characteristics, the surgical treatment, and follow-up of Danish melanoma patients. Registration and monitoring is currently expanding to encompass even more clinical parameters to benefit both patient treatment and research.

Clinical performance indicators for monitoring the management of cutaneous melanoma: a population-based perspective

“…Based on the Manual of Melanoma Clinical Pathway Quality Indicators [11], the RWG identified indicators of the conformity of local oncological practices with the recommendations in international guidelines. These clinical indicators were largely consistent with those identified by internationally recognized scientific societies and institutions, including: the American College of Surgeons [12], the Melanoma Institute of Australia [13], the Danish Melanoma Group [14], the German S3 guidelines [15,16], the National Health Service Scotland [17], the Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry [18], and the Istituto Toscano Tumori [19].…”

Genetic predisposition to long telomeres is associated with increased mortality after melanoma: A study of 2101 melanoma patients from hospital clinics and the general population

“…Melanoma diagnoses were defined according to International Classification of Diseases edition ten (ICD-10). We obtained information on tumor characteristics, tumor stage at diagnosis, and disease recurrence from the national Danish Melanoma Database (Hölmich et al, 2016;Pedersen et al, 2018). Melanoma classification according to the AJCC staging system requires histopathological information,…”

Influence of socioeconomic factors and region of residence on cancer stage of malignant melanoma: a Danish nationwide population-based study

“…A referral from primary to secondary care is required, and the general practitioners play the role of gatekeepers to the rest of the health care system. Data are obtained from a nationwide Clinical Quality register with a coverage of ~95% of all Danish patients with melanoma in recent years 8 and unique individual socioeconomic information from national administrative registers. The aim of the study was to investigate whether educational level, disposable income, cohabitating status or region of residence is associated with cancer stage and further to analyze the role of comorbidity and tumor type in these potential relations.…”