Melanoma incidence rates among whites in the U.S. Military

The U.S. Military and general populations may differ in the exposure to sunlight and other risk factors for melanoma and therefore the incidence rates of melanoma may be different in these two populations. However, few studies have compared melanoma incidence rates and trends over time between the military and the general population.

Melanoma incidence rates from 1990 to 2004 among white active-duty military personnel and the general U.S. population were compared using data from the Department of Defense Automated Central Tumor Registry and the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program.

Age-adjusted melanoma rates overall were significantly lower in the military than in the general population; the incidence rate ratio was 0.75 for men and 0.56 for women. Age-specific rates, however, were significantly lower among individuals younger than 45 years, but significantly higher among those 45 years or older (P < 0.05). Melanoma incidence increased from 1990-1994 to 2000-2004 in both populations, with the most rapid increase (40%) among younger men in the military. Melanoma incidence rates also varied by branch of military service; rates were highest in the air force.

These results suggest that melanoma incidence rate patterns differ between the military and the general population.

Further studies of risk factors for melanoma in the military are needed to explain these findings.