Seasonal pattern of the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma: a hospital-based study in a Mediterranean country.
BACKGROUND
Several investigators have described a seasonal variation in the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma. Limited data exist on the seasonality of melanoma diagnosis in Southern European countries.


METHODS
The seasonal pattern of diagnosis was analyzed in 404 Greek patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma (CM) between 1996 and 2004. A summer-to-winter ratio was determined overall and in relation to gender, age, anatomic site, histopathologic type, and tumor thickness.


RESULTS
The summer-to-winter ratio was 1.53 for all patients (95% CI [confidence interval]: 1.15-2.02) with a ratio of 1.83 for women (95% CI: 1.20-2.78) and 1.28 for men (95% CI: 0.87-1.88). A seasonal pattern of melanoma diagnosis was observed for patients younger than 50 years of age (1.70, 95% CI: 1.05-2.74) and between 50 and 69 years (1.64, 95% CI: 1.05-2.56), for melanoma located on the upper or lower extremities (2.50, 95% CI: 1.12-5.56 and 2.23, 95% CI: 1.19-4.18, respectively), for superficial spreading and nodular melanomas (1.73, 95% CI: 1.12-2.69 and 1.52 95% CI: 0.96-2.41) and for melanomas with a tumor thickness of 1-2 mm (1.69, 95% CI: 0.91-3.12) and > 4 mm (2.13, 95% CI: 1.04-4.35).


CONCLUSIONS
No major differences were seen in the seasonal distribution of CM diagnosis in a Mediterranean population compared to previously reported results. A better ascertainment of the skin during the summer and an increased awareness due to the melanoma screening campaigns are the more likely reasons for the seasonality of melanoma diagnosis in Greece.
Nikolaou
Vasiliki
V
Department of Dermatology, University of Athens Medical School, Andreas Sygros Hospital for Skin Diseases, Athens, Greece.
Stratigos
Alexander J
AJ
Antoniou
Christina
C
Sypsa
Vana
V
Stefanaki
Irene
I
Papadopoulos
Othonas
O
Danopoulou
Ifigenia
I
Hampsas
Gregorios
G
Plaka
Michaella
M
Polydorou
Dorothea
D
Katsambas
Andreas D
AD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*