Melanoma

Abstract

In 2008, an estimated 62,480 new cases of melanoma will have been diagnosed and approximately 8420 patients will have died of the disease in the United States. 1 However, these projections for new cases may represent a substantial underestimation, because many superficial and in situ melanomas treated in the outpatient setting are not reported.The incidence of melanoma continues to increase dramatically.Melanoma is increasing in men more rapidly than any other malignancy and more rapidly in women than any other malignancy except lung cancer.For someone born in the United States in 2005, the lifetime risk for developing melanoma may be as high as 1 in 55. 2 Melanoma ranks second to adult leukemia in terms of loss of years of potential life, per death.The median age at diagnosis is 59 years.