title: Signs and symptoms of melanoma in older populations.
abstract: We conducted a descriptive study to assess the relationship between increasing age and the reporting of melanoma signs/symptoms in 634 hospital-based and 624 population-based incident cases of melanoma. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between older age (> or = 50 years) and the reporting of melanoma signs/symptoms. Older patients were less likely to report itching and change in elevation of their lesions (P < 0.05). Change in color was also less likely to be reported by older patients, although not statistically significant. Ulceration of the lesion was reported significantly more by older patients (P < 0.05). Older individuals may be less likely to report itching and change in elevation/color of their lesions, but more likely to report ulceration, a symptom associated with advanced disease and poor prognosis. Further research is necessary to provide a better understanding of the development of melanoma in older populations so that new strategies can be explored to improve early detection in this age group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA. christop@mskcc.org
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Christos
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Oliveria
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berwick
authors.lastname: Guerry D4th
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Synnestvedt
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Barnhill
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Halpern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016353:Self-Examination; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric