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Epidemiology of melanoma: is it still epidemic? What is the role of the sun, sunbeds, Vit D , betablocks, and others?
Author(s) -
De Giorgi Vincenzo,
Gori Alessia,
Grazzini Marta,
Rossari Susanna,
Oranges Teresa,
Longo Anna Sara,
Lotti Torello,
Gandini Sara
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
dermatologic therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1529-8019
pISSN - 1396-0296
DOI - 10.1111/j.1529-8019.2012.01483.x
Subject(s) - medicine , overdiagnosis , melanoma , incidence (geometry) , epidemiology , sun exposure , dermatology , disease , pathology , cancer research , physics , optics
Abstract The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma is continuously increasing worldwide, but only minimal changes in mortality have been observed. This phenomenon has brought into question whether this increased incidence reflects a true or apparent melanoma epidemic. The most recent data suggest that this epidemiological trend may be explained by the existence of a certain degree of melanoma overdiagnosis, especially of thin lesions, which probably would never progress to advanced disease if left untreated. However, acute sun exposure and widespread use of sunbeds may also justify the increase in melanoma incidence. Recently, both vitamin D and beta‐blocker use seem to play a beneficial role in melanoma progression.