Only superficial spreading melanoma is causing the melanoma epidemics?

Population-based data from the Tuscany Cancer Registry including 1836 malignant melanoma diagnosed during 1985-1999 were analysed according to the morphological type. Only superficial spreading melanoma (1017 cases) showed a striking increase in incidence during the period. This was true both for thin and thick tumours. A differential effect of sun exposure in melanoma development according to morphological type deserve to be investigated.