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Incidence of lentigo maligna in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1970 to 2007
Sultan A Mirzoyev1, Richelle M Knudson2, Kurtis B Reed2
1Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.
Background:
The incidence of lentigo maligna (LM) may be increasing, but no population-based epidemiologic studies have been performed to our knowledge.
Objective:
We sought to determine the incidence of LM in Olmsted County, Minnesota, along with overall and recurrence-free survival.
Methods:
Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we identified all adult residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, with a first lifetime diagnosis of LM between 1970 and 2007. Medical records were reviewed to determine demographic, clinical, and surgical data, and incidence and survival were calculated.
Results:
Among 145 patients identified, median (range) age at diagnosis of LM was 70 (33-97) years. Treatment changed over time, with Mohs micrographic surgery becoming available after 1986. No patients died of LM; 5 had local recurrence. Estimated local recurrence-free survival at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years after diagnosis was 98%, 96%, 92%, and 92%, respectively. Overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence of LM among adults was 6.3 per 100,000 person-years, increasing from 2.2 between 1970 and 1989 to 13.7 between 2004 and 2007.
Limitations:
Retrospective study design and homogeneous population are limitations.
Conclusion:
The incidence of LM increased significantly among residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, over an extended time frame, with incidence being significantly higher among men than women and increasing with age.

