Melanoma Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Melanoma, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

Cutaneous malignant melanoma in Europe.

de Vries E, Coebergh JW

Erasmus Medical Centre, Department of Public Health, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. e.devries@erasmusmc.nl

Cutaneous malignant melanoma is on the rise in fair skinned societies. Both its incidence and mortality rates have been increasing in Europe over the past decades, the latter seem to stabilise in Scandinavia. The main cause of melanoma is intermittent exposure to ultraviolet radiation, especially in combination with endogenous factors like skin type and genetic predisposition. Evidence on an association between sunbed use and melanoma is inconclusive, but seems to point to a slightly increased risk associated with sunbed use. Within Europe, considerably variation in patterns of melanoma incidence and mortality existed. In this paper, we discuss the possible explanations for the observed trends and options for primary and secondary prevention. Early detection seems the most promising way to combat the relatively poor survival rates in Southern and Eastern Europe.

Published 2 November 2004 in Eur J Cancer, 40(16): 2355-66.
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