title: Cutaneous melanoma in Latin America: the need for more data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the scientific literature on cutaneous melanoma in Latin America and compile all available epidemiologic data to demonstrate the need for reliable regional and country-specific data on incidence and mortality estimates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, LILACS, and Google Scholar databases for epidemiologic studies from 1 January 2000 to 31 October 2010 related to melanoma in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. A final search on melanoma cases was carried out using country-specific population-based cancer registries. No statistical analyses were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all six countries, most epidemiological research on cutaneous melanoma consists of hospital-based or case-control studies. Very few studies report incidence and mortality rates. Attempts to estimate disease rates have relied on national incidence and mortality data and information extracted from cancer registries. While predominance of European ancestry is a known risk factor for developing melanoma, the association of melanoma and ethnicity is not well-documented in some of the populations reviewed. Latin Americans are frequently exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation due to the tropical weather, high altitude, and thinning ozone layer in some regions. Tanned skin is viewed as healthy and beautiful. While melanoma public health campaigns have been under way in Latin America for decades, increasing melanoma awareness remains imperative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an urgent need to collect accurate epidemiologic melanoma data in Latin America. Future research in the region should include more comprehensive, country-specific, population-based studies to allow for comparative evaluation of incidence and mortality rates.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Oncologia, Hospital São José, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. schmerling@me.com
authors.forename: Rafael A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schmerling
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loria
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cinat
authors.forename: Wilmer E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Andrés F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cardona
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Martinez-Said
authors.forename: Antonio C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Buzaid
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D006266:Health Education; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013472:Sunlight; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects