The incidence and pathogenesis of invasive cutaneous malignant melanoma in Northern Ireland

Three hundred and four suspected cases of malignant melanoma diagnosed in Northern Ireland over a 5 year period have been reviewed. Two hundred and forty fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of invasive cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) and were accepted as suitable for analysis an incidence of 3.12. The female to male ratio for CMM in this study is 3:1. This excess of female lesions occurs at all major anatomical sites and for all tumour types. There are many thick melanomas in the province, and 67% of cases were greater than 1.7 mm thick. Each tumour type has a distinctive age curve. The implications of these findings are discussed. The evidence suggests that intrinsic factors are as important as extrinsic factors.