title: Time trends of incidence, mortality, and relative survival of invasive skin melanoma in Lithuania.
abstract: The aim of this study was to provide insights into the descriptive epidemiology of invasive skin melanoma in Lithuania by analyzing population-based incidence (1978-2002) and mortality (1990-2002) time trends, and relative survival based on 3485 skin melanoma. We calculated age-standardized incidence and mortality rates (cases per 100,000) using the European Standard Population and calculated period estimates of relative survival. The incidence rates increased from 1978 (men: 1.7, women: 2.3) to 2002 (men: 5.0, women: 7.0). The incidence increase over time is accompanied by cohort effects among both men and women. Mortality rates increased from 1990 (men: 1.2, women: 1.7) to 2002 (men: 2.3, women: 2.2). Relative 5-year survival rates among men were 10% lower than among women. The overall difference in survival was mainly due to a more favourable survival among women aged 60-74 years. Overall prognosis was less favourable among men, most likely due to diagnoses at later stages.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometry and Informatics, University Hospital, University of Halle, Magdeburger Str. 27, 06109 Halle, Germany. andreas.stang@medizin.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stang
authors.forename: Skaidra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valiukeviciene
authors.forename: Birute
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aleknaviciene
authors.forename: Juozas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kurtinaitis
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D013997:Time Factors