title: Seasonal pattern of the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma: a hospital-based study in a Mediterranean country.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Athens Medical School, Andreas Sygros Hospital for Skin Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nikolaou
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Stratigos
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antoniou
authors.forename: Vana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sypsa
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stefanaki
authors.forename: Othonas
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: Ifigenia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Danopoulou
authors.forename: Gregorios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hampsas
authors.forename: Michaella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plaka
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Polydorou
authors.forename: Andreas D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Katsambas
mesh_terms: 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*