Comparison of stage at diagnosis of melanoma among Hispanic, black, and white patients in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
OBJECTIVE
To compare stage at diagnosis of melanoma between non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic patients.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis.


METHODS
Melanoma cases reported to the Florida Cancer Data System, with known stage and race/ethnicity information, for residents of Miami-Dade County, Florida, from 1997 to 2002.


METHODS
Those diagnosed as having melanoma according to the Florida Cancer Data System.


METHODS
Stage of melanoma at diagnosis.


RESULTS
Of the 1690 melanoma cases reported with both stage and race/ethnicity information, 1176 (70%) were among non-Hispanic white patients, 485 (29%) were among Hispanic patients of any race, and 29 (2%) were among non-Hispanic black patients. Late-stage (regional and distant) diagnosis was more common among Hispanic (26%) and non-Hispanic black patients (52%) compared with non-Hispanic white patients (16%) (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Advanced stage of melanoma diagnosis among Hispanic and black patients suggests suboptimal secondary prevention efforts in minority populations.
Hu
Shasa
S
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla., USA.
Soza-Vento
Rita M
RM
Parker
Dorothy F
DF
Kirsner
Robert S
RS
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*