Epidemiological changes in cutaneous melanoma: retrospective study of 969 cases (1996-2010)

The incidence of malignant melanoma has increased over recent decades all over the world; however, we are not aware if this also occurs in Madrid. Our objective was to analyze epidemiological changes in cutaneous malignant melanomas diagnosed over a 15-year period.

Retrospective analysis of data of patients with primary cutaneous melanomas attended at Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain, between 1996 and 2010, divided into three periods: 1996-2000; 2001-2005; 2006-2010, was obtained.

In total, 969 melanomas were histologically diagnosed. The mean age at the moment of diagnosis was 58.5 years old. The mean tumor thickness was 1.61 mm. The most common histological type was surface-spreading melanoma and the most common site was the trunk. There were statistically significant differences (P < .05) between the three periods of the study: older age at diagnoses (P < .001); larger number of head and neck melanomas (P < .001); more melanomas on trunk in women (P < .001); increase of lentigo maligna melanoma (P < .001); thinner mean tumor thickness (Breslow index) (P < .001); larger number of melanomas in situ (P < .001). However, thick melanomas (tumor thickness over 2 mm) ratio was still over 20% in all periods, especially in males and in those over 65 years old.

Diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma in Spain is made increasingly with a thinner mean tumor thickness, although thick melanomas are still diagnosed in men and in individuals over 65 years.