[Epidemiology of melanoma of the skin in The Netherlands: a descriptive study]

A study of the mortality rates of cutaneous malignant melanoma over the period 1950-1985 in The Netherlands showed a fourfold increase of mortality. An analysis by birth cohort suggests a cohort effect: age-specific mortality rates increase with successively younger generations. To determine the incidence of malignant melanoma of the skin data were derived from a registration of histological diagnoses of diseases (PALGA). The estimated numbers of new cases of melanoma of the skin were 1270 and 1372 in the years 1986 and 1987 respectively. Data on the trend in incidence are restricted, but indicate an increase. This descriptive study allows no conclusions about the cause of the rise in incidence and mortality rates.