Kf. Kolmel et al., The mortality of invasive maligant melanoma. A review with special consideration of gender variations, HAUTARZT, 52(3), 2001, pp. 211-218
Background and Objective. The final goals of malignant melanoma prevention
are lowering incidence and mortality. We assessed the parameter "survival"
for both men and women as the beginning point for future gender-directed pr
evention campaigns. We compared the periods 1972-1980, 1981-1988, 1989-1996
, and determined the influence of age a nd of Breslow' tu mor thickness on
survival.
Patients/Methods. We had sufficient follow-up on 10.433 patients. We calcul
ated survival curves according to Kaplan-Meier and defined differences by t
he logrank test.
Results. At all periods of time,survival of women was higher compared with
men, but with no impressive changes over time. This was especially true for
younger men. The most important prognostic factor was the Breslow tumor th
ickness. Within all periods of time, its median was higher in men. A trend
downwards for both genders could be observed with higher influence on survi
val In men.
Conclusions. Our findings justify melanoma prevention campaigns addressed t
o men. Evaluation of such campaigns has to take into account an already exi
sting upwards trend for male survival, which exceeds that of female surviva
l.