CLINICAL AND HISTOLOGIC TRENDS OF MELANOMA

Background: Several changing clinical and histopathologic melanoma tre nds occurred from the 1950s to the 1980s. Objective: The purpose of th is study was to evaluate melanoma trends during the past decade and to compare present trends to those documented during the past four decad es. Methods: Sex, age at diagnosis, location, tumor thickness, stage, and histologic subtypes were evaluated from 1984 to 1995 and compared with trends during the past four decades. Results: Most changing trend s from the past four decades have slowed or stabilized during the past decade. Conclusion: Complete reporting of all melanomas to central tu mor registries is necessary to accurately analyze present and future m elanoma trends. Ongoing and new prevention and control strategies begi nning at birth may be necessary to continue the positive efforts to cu rtail the melanoma epidemic.