 |
|
Malignant Melanoma in Southern ArizonaIncreasing Incidence and Sunlight as an Etiologic Factor
Michael M. Schreiber, MD;
Paul D. Bozzo, MD;
Thomas E. Moon, PhD
Arch Dermatol. 1981;117(1):6-11.
Abstract
| |
• This study demonstrated an increasing incidence of malignant melanoma during the past ten years and a very high incidence of this tumor in southern Arizona. During the ten-year period, 533 melanomas were removed from white patients. Of these, 52% were male and 48% were female. The number of melanomas increased yearly, from 20 in 1969 to 120 in 1978, a crude rate incidence of 6.49 to 28.57 (27.20 standardized) per 100,000, respectively. This reflects an average annual increase of 34% to 37% and a 340% increase for the period. The highest incidence of tumor was in the 50 to 59 year and 60 to 69 year age groups. The most common site of occurrence was the back, with twice as many tumors arising there in males. The legs were involved in 13% of patients, with an occurrence rate eight times higher in females. The extremely high incidence of melanomas in southern Arizona is probably due to meteorologic and geographic factors allowing large amounts of ultraviolet light to reach the earth's surface.
(Arch Dermatol 117:6-11, 1981)
Author Affiliations
From the Cancer Epidemiology Unit, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson (Dr Moon). Drs Schreiber and Bozzo are in private practice.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication April 8, 1980.
Presented to the American Society of Clinical Pathology, Dermatopathology Section, Las Vegas, Oct 25, 1979, and at the Arizona Tumor Registry Informational Seminar, Casa Grande, Ariz, Jan 16, 1980.
Reprint requests to 5402 E Grant Rd, Bldg F, Tucson, AZ 85712 (Dr Schreiber).
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
High Risk of Malignant Melanoma in Melanoma-Prone Families with Dysplastic Nevi
GREENE et al.
ANN INTERN MED 1985;102:458-465.
ABSTRACT
|
