title: Changing presentation of cutaneous malignant melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma is rapidly increasing in Denmark like in other Northern and Western European countries. Our objective was to investigate the characteristics of current patients suffering from cutaneous malignant melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated patient and tumour characteristics in a cross-sectional study based on data from the Danish Melanoma Register. We included all patients diagnosed with cutaneous malignant melanoma in Healthcare Region Zealand in 2012 and 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 520 patients with invasive cutaneous malignant melanoma. More females than males suffered from cutaneous malignant melanoma. Furthermore, females were younger than males, and the anatomical distribution of malignant melanoma varied between the genders. Outcome of sentinel lymph node biopsy was associated with tumour thickness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When comparing findings in our study with earlier Danish studies, we see a trend towards an increase in age at diagnosis. Furthermore, tumour thickness is decreasing and the topical distribution of cutaneous malignant melanoma in females changes towards a male pattern.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  none.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The study has been approved by the Danish National Data Protection Agency.
authors.affiliation: akli@regionsjaelland.dk.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klit
authors.forename: Cecilie Brandt
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lassen
authors.forename: Caroline Holkmann
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lock-Andersen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma