[Malignant melanoma in life insurance--thickness or anatomic layer?]

The incidence of malignant melanoma has tripled during the last 40 years and continues to increase. Among clinical criteria the single and most significant prognostic factor is the extent of tumor invasion expressed by thickness rather than anatomical structure. Patients with melanoma thinner than 0.76 mm have a five year survival of 96%. Thicker tumors bear a poor prognosis. Patients having survived 10 years have a life expectancy close to the normal population.