Malignant melanoma in southern Arizona. Increasing incidence and sunlight as an etiologic factor

摘要: • This study demonstrated an increasing incidence of malignant melanoma during the past ten years and a very high this tumor in southern Arizona. During ten-year period, 533 melanomas were removed from white patients. Of these, 52% male 48% female. The number increased yearly, 20 1969 to 120 1978, crude rate 6.49 28.57 (27.20 standardized) per 100,000, respectively. reflects average annual increase 34% 37% 340% for period. highest was 50 59 year 60 69 age groups. most common site occurrence back, with twice as many tumors arising there males. legs involved 13% patients, eight times higher females. extremely Arizona is probably due meteorologic geographic factors allowing large amounts ultraviolet light reach earth's surface. (Arch Dermatol117:6-11, 1981)