title: Cutaneous melanoma frequencies and seasonal trend in 20 years of observation of a population characterised by excessive sun exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer. It has become an increasingly common neoplasm in the most developed countries, especially among individuals of European origin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymous data of patients with cutaneous melanoma were collected from the diagnostic database of the University Hospital of Trieste from 1 January 1990 to 10 December 2013. Our study is based on a population which was constant over the period of observation; it was also well-defined and characterised by unrestrained sun exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of cutaneous melanomas increased during the period of observation with a seasonality trend and gender related differences both for anatomical sites distribution and stage of the disease. Moreover, 6% of our cohort developed multiple melanomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a well-defined population devoted to excessive sun exposure the frequencies of skin melanomas roughly doubled from 1990 to 2013 following a seasonal trend. In that population, prevention efforts according to gender specific risk behaviour, as well as follow-up programmes both for evaluation of metastatic spreading and for early diagnosis of additional skin melanomas, are crucial due to gender specific differences and to the occurrence of multiple melanomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Unit of Dermatology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Unit of Dermatology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Unit of Dermatology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: di Meo
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology; Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti di Trieste; Ospedale Maggiore, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Dermatology, University of Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stinco
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Unit of Surgical Pathology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zanconati
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Unit of Dermatology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; Unit of Dermatology; Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti di Trieste; Ospedale Maggiore, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Giusto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trevisan
keywords: cutaneous melanoma; frequencies; gender related differences; multiple melanomas; sun exposure
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