Epidemiological Profile of Patients with Cutaneous Melanoma in a Region of Southern Brazil

Abstract

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is responsible for 75% of deaths from malignant skin cancer. The incidence of CM in the southern region of Brazil, particularly in the western region of Santa Catarina, is possibly higher than estimated. In this study, the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with CM treated in the western region of Santa Catarina was examined. A cross-sectional study was performed with patients diagnosed with CM from January 2002 to December 2009, from 78 counties of the western region of the state of Santa Catarina. Data were collected using a protocol adapted from the Brazilian Melanoma Group and 503 patients were evaluated. The incidence and prevalence of CM found in this region are much higher than those found elsewhere in the country. This fact is most likely due to the phenotypic characteristics of the population and the high incidence of UV radiation in this region due to its location in southern Brazil, as is the case in the countries of Oceania.

Cutaneous melanoma in Argentina: an analysis of its characteristics and regional differences

“…In line with results from other studies in several geographic areas [21,[33][34][35], we observed a significant association between gender and Breslow: males diagnosed with a higher proportion of melanomas with Breslow over 4 mm. These differences between Breslow according to sex and age could be explained by an improvement in self-examination and different habits in young and female individuals [36,37].…”

“…According to the Globocan Project, skin melanoma mortality rates in South America, estimated for 2018, were 0.60/100,000 for females and 1.2/100.000 for males [3]. In Brazil, melanoma mortality differed by regions: 0.26/100,000 in the North; 0.35 in the North East; 0.90 in the South East; 1.74 in the South and 0.64 in the Midwest [33]. Also, in Chile and in Colombia, mortality rates varied along the country [43,44].…”

Current Management of Malignant Melanoma: State of the Art

“…Histologically, they are characterized by an increased number of normal dendritic melanocytes along the dermo-epidermal junction. The solar lentigo appears on sun-exposed surfaces during middle to late life, in common with lentigo maligna, and may closely resemble lentigo maligna [87,94,102].…”

Risk Factors for Developing Cutaneous Melanoma in Santa Catarina, Brazil: A Case-Control Observational Study

“…Between 2002 and 2009, the prevalence was 71.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2008, the incidence was 12.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants [14]. Brazil has also experienced an increase in CMrelated mortality, especially in certain areas of the country [12,13].…”