[The growth dynamics of malignant melanomas. Long-term establishment of melanomas]

Malignant melanomas have become common skin tumors, with an annual incidence of new cases of about 11/100,000 population (applies to Hesse, 1984). Early detection and excision of the lesion has found general acceptance. It can be calculated from tumor kinetics that, on average, it takes about 10 to 15 years for an initial-invasive, superficially spreading melanoma to develop into an advanced tumor with invasion of the subcutaneous tissue. On the basis of its localisation in the skin, striking pigmentation, and the protracted growth of the initial melanoma, early detection ought to be possible in the majority of cases. The clinical aspect of the lesion should, in the first instance, be decisive for excision, since anamnestic information provided by the patient can lead to wrong conclusions. Patients with a light skin sensitive to the sun, and numerous, possibly dysplastic, birthmarks, are considered to be at increased risk, and should therefore be examined prophylactically every year.