Uveal and conjunctival malignant melanoma in Denmark, 1943-97: incidence and validation study.
OBJECTIVE
To study the incidence of malignant melanoma in the ocular region in Denmark during the period 1943-97.


METHODS
The patients were mainly identified through the Danish Cancer Registry. Age-period-cohort modelling of the incidence rates was done based on age at diagnosis, calendar period and birth cohort in 5-year groups and for each gender.


RESULTS
The age-standardized incidence of malignant melanoma in the ocular region was 0.78 for men (N = 1327) and 0.65 for women (N = 1242) per 100,000 person-years. Calendar period and birth cohort had no effect on the incidence in the ocular region or in the topography subgroups choroid/ciliary body and conjunctiva. However, the incidence increased with birth cohort for iris melanomas.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of malignant melanoma in the ocular region was stable in contrast to a major increase in cutaneous melanoma in Denmark during the period 1943-97. The incidence of iris melanomas increased substantially, whereas the rate was stable for choroid/ciliary body and conjunctival melanomas.
Isager
P
P
Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. isager@dadlnet.dk
Østerlind
A
A
Engholm
G
G
Heegaard
S
S
Lindegaard
J
J
Overgaard
J
J
Storm
H H
HH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology