Trends in incidence of thick, thin and in situ melanoma in Europe

Abstract

The increase in invasive lesions seemed mainly driven by thin melanomas (AAPC 10% men; 8.3% women). The incidence of thick melanomas also increased, although more slowly in recent years. Correction for lesions of unknown thickness enhanced the differences between thin and thick cases and flattened the trends. Incidence trends varied considerably across registries, but only Netherlands presented a marked increase above the boundaries of a funnel plot that weighted estimates by their precision. Mortality from invasive melanoma has continued to increase in Norway, Iceland (but only for elder people), the Netherlands and Slovenia.

Cutaneous melanoma in Argentina: an analysis of its characteristics and regional differences

“…Gender disparities by several characteristics were observed, suggesting that in Argentina as in many other countries, sex is an important risk for cutaneous melanoma development and prognosis with the risk being higher among males. In line with these results, a significant association between patients age at diagnosis and sex has been previously reported [19,20]. In the present study, males were, at the time of diagnosis, older than females.…”

“…It is well known that for melanoma, the primary site is gender dependent. As in other series of cases [20][21][22], we reported a predominance of lesions on the trunk in males and on the lower limbs in females. It has been hypothesised that these sex differences could be explained at least in part by a heterogeneous sun exposure patterns with differences in clothing, hair style, occupation, sun-seeking behaviour between males and females [24].…”

Treatment of melanoma of unknown primary in the era of immunotherapy and targeted therapy: A Dutch population‐based study

“…There is a continuing upward trend in melanoma incidence in many European countries, including the Netherlands . Approximately 3% of patients who newly present with melanoma are diagnosed with melanoma of unknown primary (MUP) .…”

“…There is a continuing upward trend in melanoma incidence in many European countries, including the Netherlands. 1 Approximately 3% of patients who newly present with melanoma are diagnosed with melanoma of unknown primary (MUP). 2,3 According to the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging criteria, patients presenting with melanoma metastases in the (sub)cutis, soft tissue, and/or lymph nodes, without a detectable primary tumour, are diagnosed with stage III disease; by contrast, patients presenting with distant metastases, including visceral metastases, are diagnosed with stage IV disease.…”

MelaNostrum: a consensus questionnaire of standardized epidemiologic and clinical variables for melanoma risk assessment by the melanostrum consortium

“…5,6 Data from population-based European registries have shown an increased incidence of in situ and invasive melanoma but a stable mortality rate in Italy and Spain between 1995 and 2012. 7 Melanoma risk factors include ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, positive family history for melanoma, phenotypic traits with a strong genetic component such as red or blonde hair, light-coloured eyes, and fair skin complexion, and an increased number of common and atypical melanocytic nevi. Even though the advent of targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors has improved melanoma prognosis in a subgroup of patients, the mortality risk and the socio-economic burden associated with advanced disease emphasize the importance of prevention strategies in high-risk individuals and of screening programs for early detection.…”