AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF POSTERIOR UVEAL MELANOMA IN ISRAEL, 1961-1989

Trends in the incidence rate of uveal melanoma in Israel during the pe riod 1961-1989 among Jews of various geographical origins and among no n-Jews were examined, and found to be stable over time. Based on data of the Israel Cancer Registry, 515 cases were included in the final st udy population after an independent case-finding ascertainment survey. The average annual incidence rate per million for all Jews was 5.7 fo r both males and females; the rates for non-Jews were: males 1.6, fema les 1.3. Incidence rates within the Jewish sub-populations show signif icant differences. The highest rates by sub-population were for Jews b orn in Europe or America (7.5 for males and for females), followed by Jews born in Israel (males 6.8, females 6.7); and lowest in Jews born in Africa (males 2.1, females 2.3) and Asia (males 1.6, females 2.8). Jews born in Israel had rates lower than Jews born in Europe and Ameri ca during the 1960s, but in the 1980s the situation was reversed. Resu lts suggest that rate differences between population groups and over t ime stem from constitutional factors or from the direct or indirect ef fect of sunlight radiation, whether early in life or from cumulative e xposure. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.