Background
Melanoma has been the focus of early detection efforts of skin cancer because it is the leading cause of death from skin disorders.
Objective
To document the patterns of mortality from skin cancer throughout life.
Design
Population-based mortality registration.
Setting
United States, 1979 through 1991.
Patients
Decedents from skin cancer.
Intervention
None.
Main Outcome Measure
Distribution of deaths from skin cancer by cause of death, age, gender, and race.
Results
Skin cancer was responsible for 61 458 deaths during the 8 years studied, 72% of which were attributed to melanoma. Melanoma accounted for about 90% of deaths from skin cancer among whites younger than 50 years, but only a minority of deaths among blacks and among whites older than 85 years.
Conclusion
Efforts at early detection among the elderly white population should focus on both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers.
Arch Dermatol. 1997;133:1207-1209
