			Home About us Contact

Melanoma Mortality (melanoma + mortality)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Trends in Pediatric Melanoma Mortality in the United States, 1968 through 2004

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 2 2008
KEVAN G. LEWIS MD
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Mortality from melanoma in children is a poorly understood and controversial problem in dermatology. There is paucity of research into this important public health dilemma. The purpose of this study was to characterize pediatric melanoma mortality in the United States and to evaluate trends over time. METHODS AND MATERIALS Deaths were derived from a database of more than 75 million records of the U.S. Center for National Health Statistics based on routine death certification. Information on age, race, gender, and geographic location was available for years 1968 through 2004. RESULTS During the 37-year period, there were 643 deaths attributed to melanoma in children under 20 years of age in the United States, an average of 18 per year. The overall age-adjusted mortality rate for melanoma in children was 2.25 deaths per year (per 10 million at-risk individuals). Mortality rates were strongly associated with age. In the oldest age group (age 15,19 years) the mortality rate was approximately an order of magnitude 8,18 times higher compared to younger age groups. Mortality among males was 25% higher than females. Mortality rates for white children were more than twice as high as black children. Overall mortality from melanoma in children declined steadily from 1968 to 2004. The highest mortality rates were observed in Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. CONCLUSIONS Although mortality from melanoma among children in the United State is low, the magnitude of the public health burden from this preventable cause of death is substantial. In contrast to results of studies suggesting that the incidence of melanoma may be rising in children and adolescents, the data suggest that mortality in these groups may be falling. Additional study is warranted to further characterize and ultimately reduce mortality from childhood melanoma. [source]

Efficacy of skin self-examination for the early detection of melanoma

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Reyhaneh Hamidi BA
The National Cancer Institute's "Melanoma Action Plan" calls for reduction of melanoma mortality through early detection. Routine skin self-examination (SSE) has the potential to increase chances of early detection and treatment and may be the key to melanoma survival. We provide a focused review of the accuracy of SSE for detecting premalignant lesions and cutaneous risk factors for melanoma, with suggestions for future directions for enhancing measurement of SSE accuracy and ways in which to improve the public's perceptions of melanoma efficacy. We examined published data on the efficacy of skin self-examination for the early detection of melanoma. We searched the MEDLINE database for publications between January 1, 1987 and June 1, 2007 using search terms for "melanoma" and "self-examination." We found that sensitivity of skin self-examination is low, ranging from 25% to 93%, while specificity is generally higher (83% to 97%). Attempts to increase improve the lay public's perceptions of the early signs of melanoma have proved effective, while those aimed at increasing accuracy of SSE with targeted interventions have been moderately successful. SSE's insensitivity for detection of pigmented lesions should prompt further investigation of educational interventions to enhance its accuracy and lead to its adoption as a cheap, simple screening tool. Assessment of the accuracy and efficacy of SSE should proceed using standardized definitions and measurements such that it is easier to pool data on the overall value of SSE as a screening modality. [source]

The geography of melanoma in South Australia

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 2 2009
Adrian R. Heard
Abstract Objective: We sought to determine the distribution of melanoma in South Australia with respect to the relative incidence and mortality in coastal/river versus inland areas and metropolitan versus regional/remote areas, and to outline the public health implications of this distribution. Methods: All melanoma cases and deaths for the period 1985-2004 for Adelaide and 11 regional centres were geo-coded and then allocated to ABS collection districts. Collection districts with a centroid within 2 km of the coast or River Murray were determined using mapping software. Results: Melanoma incidence is higher in coastal South Australia (OR=1.19) and near the River Murray (OR=1.25) than in inland South Australia. This geographical effect remains after adjustment for age and socio-economic status. Incidence is also higher in metropolitan Adelaide than in regional areas (OR=1.10). For melanoma mortality there is no significant effect of living near the coast or river, and no effect of living in regional areas. Conclusion: Living near the coast or River Murray in South Australia is associated with an increased risk of being diagnosed with melanoma. Implications: Melanoma prevention and acute care programs can be usefully targeted at persons living in coastal and riverine areas, where there is a significant excess of melanoma incidence. This target population is older than inland populations and will require interventions appropriate for aged communities. [source]

A quantitative estimate of melanoma mortality from ultraviolet A sunbed use in the U.K.

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2003
B.L. Diffey
Summary Background, Concern has been expressed for many years in the medical and regulatory literature about the adverse health effects, especially melanoma, from the use of sunbeds for cosmetic tanning. Objectives, To estimate the mortality from melanoma as a result of the use of sunbeds for cosmetic tanning in the U.K. Methods A model using a Monte Carlo random sampling technique was developed to estimate human ultraviolet exposure to both sunlight and sunbeds, and these data were used to predict the contribution of sunbeds to melanoma mortality in the U.K. Results, The mortality from melanoma due to sunbed use each year in the U.K. is estimated to be about 100 deaths. Conclusions, Sunbed use could be regarded as a relatively minor self-imposed detriment to public health compared with other voluntary ,pleasurable' activities associated with significant mortality, such as smoking and drinking alcohol. While cosmetic tanning using sunbeds should be discouraged, prohibition is not warranted especially as exposure to the sun, which cannot be regulated, remains the major contributory factor to the risk of melanoma. [source]