title: Clinical and pathological features of melanoma in europeans living on the Western costa del sol in southern Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare clinical and pathological features of melanoma in Spanish patients with those of patients from Central or Northern Europe living in the health district of Costa del Sol Occidental in southern Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study of all cases of primary cutaneous melanoma histologically confirmed between 2005 and 2011 in the health care district covered by Hospital Costa del Sol in Marbella. We analyzed clinical and pathological features and performed a descriptive analysis of the 2 populations, in addition to univariate analysis with place of birth (Spain vs Central or Northern Europe) as the independent variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with Spaniards, patients from Central or Northern Europe were 10 years older at the time of melanoma diagnosis (66.2 vs 56.2 years, P<.001), had lighter skin (types I or II) (90.3% vs 67.1%, P<.001), and greater recreational sun exposure (93.7% vs 66.2%, P<.001). In addition, multiple melanomas (17.6% vs 4.4%, P=.001), nonmelanoma skin cancer (47.2% vs 15.7%, P<.001), and a family history of melanoma (9.5% vs 2.3%, P=.01) were more common in these patients. Central and Northern Europeans also had a higher overall frequency of melanoma on the trunk (46.3% vs 38.7%) and melanoma in situ (54.7% vs 41.8%, P=.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in melanoma presentation between Spanish patients and patients from Central or Northern Europe appear to be linked to phenotypic and lifestyle factors. A better understanding of these differences will help to tailor melanoma prevention and follow-up programs for multicultural populations, such as those on Spain's Costa del Sol.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Málaga, España. Electronic address: inesbier@gmail.com.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fernández Canedo
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Málaga, España.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rivas Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Málaga, España.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blázquez Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Málaga, España.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fúnez Liébana
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Málaga, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Troya Martín
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018327:Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D013030:Spain; D044465:White People
keywords: Central and Northern Europe; Centro y norte europeos; Exposición solar recreativa; Melanoma; Recreational sun exposure; Southern Spain; Sur de España