Epidemiology of Cutaneous Melanoma

Rodrigo Arrangoiz MS, MD, FACS, FSSO
  • Cutaneous melanoma:
    • Is a malignancy arising from melanocytes of the skin:
      • Its incidence has been increasing globally:
        • Particularly in fair-skinned populations
    • The incidence of invasive cutaneous melanoma:
      • Continues to be a major public health concern in the United States:
        • It has been increasing faster than that of nearly any other cancer over the last 30 years
  • In 2020, there were an estimated 325,000 new cases and 57,000 deaths due to melanoma worldwide:
    • The highest incidence rates are observed in Australia and New Zealand:
      • With rates of 42 per 100,000 person-years for males and 31 per 100,000 person-years for females
    • Western Europe, North America, and Northern Europe also have high incidence rates
    • While melanoma remains rare in most African and Asian countries
  • The incidence of melanoma is closely linked to:
    • Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure:
      • Both from natural sunlight and artificial sources like tanning beds
      • This exposure is a significant risk factor, particularly in populations with lighter skin pigmentation
  • The incidence rates have been rising by approximately 3% to 7% annually over the past decades in white populations:
    • Driven by changes in outdoor activities and sun exposure behaviors
  • Mortality rates for melanoma:
    • Have shown stabilization or decline in some regions, such as the USA, Australia, and parts of Europe:
      • Likely due to early detection and advances in treatment:
        • Including the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies
    • However, mortality rates remain highest in regions with the highest incidence, such as New Zealand, where they peak at 5 per 100,000 person-years
  • Projections indicate that if current trends continue:
    • The global burden of melanoma will increase to 510,000 new cases and 96,000 deaths by 2040, underscoring the need for effective prevention and early detection strategies
  • According to the analysis by Garbe et al:
    • Melanoma incidence among US whites is predicted to rise to 56.1 per 100,000 males and 36.2 per 100,000 females by 2036, with a significant portion of this increase expected to occur by 2025
    • This trend is driven by factors such as increased UV exposure and improved detection methods
  • Guy et al. projected that melanoma incidence rates would continue to increase for white males and females through 2019, with death rates remaining stable:
    • Although this projection does not extend to 2025, it supports the trend of rising incidence rates observed in other studies
  • Whiteman et al. also noted that melanoma rates in US whites increased at more than 3% annually between 1982 and 2011 and are projected to continue rising until at least 2022:
    • With annual new cases expected to rise significantly due to aging populations and high age-specific rates in the elderly
  • The American Cancer Society (ACS) projects that in 2025:
    • There will be approximately 106,110 new cases of melanoma and 7,180 deaths due to melanoma in the United States
    • The incidence rates for melanoma have been rising by about 2% to 3% annually, driven by changes in sun exposure behaviors and the aging population
  • Overall, the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with melanoma is about:
    • 2.5% (1 in 40) for whites, 0.1% (1 in 1,000) for blacks, and 0.5% (1 in 200) for Hispanics
  • The major environmental risk factor, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, is reflected in geographic and ethnic patterns of melanoma rates
  • There have also been changes in the distribution and stage of melanoma at diagnosis:
    • With an overall trend toward thinner T1 / T2 melanomas
  • References:
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Published by Rodrigo Arrangoiz MS, MD, FACS, FSSO

My name is Rodrigo Arrangoiz I am a breast surgeon/ thyroid surgeon / parathyroid surgeon / head and neck surgeon / surgical oncologist that works at Center for Advanced Surgical Oncology in Miami, Florida. I was trained as a surgeon at Michigan State University from (2005 to 2010) where I was a chief resident in 2010. My surgical oncology and head and neck training was performed at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia from 2010 to 2012. At the same time I underwent a masters in science (Clinical research for health professionals) at the University of Drexel. Through the International Federation of Head and Neck Societies / Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center I performed a two year head and neck surgery and oncology / endocrine fellowship that ended in 2016. Mi nombre es Rodrigo Arrangoiz, soy cirujano oncólogo / cirujano de tumores de cabeza y cuello / cirujano endocrino que trabaja Center for Advanced Surgical Oncology en Miami, Florida. Fui entrenado como cirujano en Michigan State University (2005 a 2010 ) donde fui jefe de residentes en 2010. Mi formación en oncología quirúrgica y e n tumores de cabeza y cuello se realizó en el Fox Chase Cancer Center en Filadelfia de 2010 a 2012. Al mismo tiempo, me sometí a una maestría en ciencias (investigación clínica para profesionales de la salud) en la Universidad de Drexel. A través de la Federación Internacional de Sociedades de Cabeza y Cuello / Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center realicé una sub especialidad en cirugía de cabeza y cuello / cirugia endocrina de dos años que terminó en 2016.

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