Multiple primary melanoma: two-year results from a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the frequency of occurrence and risk factors for multiple primary melanoma.


METHODS
Population-based, case-control study.


METHODS
New Hampshire.


METHODS
Three-hundred fifty-four New Hampshire residents with a confirmed first diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma.


METHODS
Diagnosis of a subsequent primary cutaneous melanoma.


RESULTS
An additional melanoma occurred in 27 individuals (8%) within 2 years of their initial diagnosis, including 20 (6%) within the first postdiagnosis year. In 9 (33%) of these 27 cases, at least 1 subsequent melanoma was deeper than the first tumor. The 27 individuals with a subsequent melanoma diagnosis were classified as "cases" and were compared on the basis of risk factors to the 327 "controls" with a single melanoma diagnosis. The data indicate an inverse relation of risk of multiple primary melanomas with multiple blistering sunburns (P = .01 for the trend); the odds ratio (OR) was 0.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-0.93) for 2 or more sunburns compared with none. The number of atypical moles was significantly related to increased risk (P = .004 for the trend). The presence of 3 or more atypical moles compared with none was associated with more than a 4-fold risk of multiple primary melanomas (OR, 4.29; 95% CI, 1.51-12.16).


CONCLUSIONS
Additional melanomas occur more frequently than previously shown. Our study confirms that atypical moles are strongly associated with risk of multiple primary melanomas but provides little evidence that risk is influenced by pigmentary characteristics, hours of sun exposure, or benign moles. The inverse association with blistering sunburn may reflect the influence of an unmeasured covariate.
Titus-Ernstoff
Linda
L
Department of Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA. Linda.Titus-Ernstoff@Dartmouth.edu
Perry
Ann E
AE
Spencer
Steven K
SK
Gibson
Jennifer
J
Ding
Jiao
J
Cole
Bernard
B
Ernstoff
Marc S
MS
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009513:New Hampshire / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires