INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Few data are available about melanoma risk factors and clinicopathologic features in Italy in regard to geographical areas. The aims of this multicentric study involving main referral melanoma centers in Italy belonging to the Italian Polidisciplinary Group for Melanoma (GIPMe) were to evaluate: 1) the distribution in primary melanoma clinicopathologic features on the basis of geographical areas; 2) differences in melanoma risk factors on the basis of geographical areas (North- Centre- South), age and gender; 3) different risk factors specifically related to nodular melanoma. MATERIAL & METHODS: This multicentric study was conducted on clinical reports of 1,175 patients from 17 Italian Centres belonging to GIPMe (Gruppo Italiano Poldisciplinare Melanoma). Clinical examination aimed to evaluate the number and distribution of atypical nevi was performed in each patient; moreover a survey was administered to each patient to evaluate sun exposure behaviour and adhesion to screening programmes. RESULTS: There was a slight prevalence of female gender (51%), the median age at melanoma diagnosis of patients included in the study was 46 years. Superficial spreading melanoma was as expected the most frequent histotype, whilst nodular melanoma accounted for 4.4% of cases. The analysis of phototypes showed that type II was the most frequently represented (47%), followed by type III (44%); type I and IV were found in less than 5% of patients each. Interestingly, the large majority of patients (82.1%) reported one or more previous sunburns. On the basis of geographical distribution, patients included in the Centre- South Italy were elder than those from North regions (median age at melanoma diagnosis: 50 years vs 45 years; p=0.01); a prevalence of phototype II versus III was documented in the Centre-South patients, whilst an opposite distribution was observed in the patients included in the North regions. On the basis of gender distribution, females were characterised by a slight prevalence of phototype II (51% vs 42%; p=0.004), whilst males underwent more frequently sunburns (86% vs 78%; p=0.001). A higher risk of thick melanoma was associated with younger age, identification by relatives and elevation as principal modification; on the other hand, the occurrence of nodular melanoma was significantly associated with sun exposure during the central hours of the day (risk ratio: 5.31). CONCLUSIONS: The identification of different risk factors could be the basis upon which targeted prevention strategies should be developed aimed to reduce the population exposure at risk factors and to increase early diagnosis.

“From the Aosta Valley to the Sicily it is always melanoma but..” : results of a multicentric Italian study from the GIPMe

CANNAVO', Serafinella;GUARNERI, Claudio;
2012-01-01

Abstract

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Few data are available about melanoma risk factors and clinicopathologic features in Italy in regard to geographical areas. The aims of this multicentric study involving main referral melanoma centers in Italy belonging to the Italian Polidisciplinary Group for Melanoma (GIPMe) were to evaluate: 1) the distribution in primary melanoma clinicopathologic features on the basis of geographical areas; 2) differences in melanoma risk factors on the basis of geographical areas (North- Centre- South), age and gender; 3) different risk factors specifically related to nodular melanoma. MATERIAL & METHODS: This multicentric study was conducted on clinical reports of 1,175 patients from 17 Italian Centres belonging to GIPMe (Gruppo Italiano Poldisciplinare Melanoma). Clinical examination aimed to evaluate the number and distribution of atypical nevi was performed in each patient; moreover a survey was administered to each patient to evaluate sun exposure behaviour and adhesion to screening programmes. RESULTS: There was a slight prevalence of female gender (51%), the median age at melanoma diagnosis of patients included in the study was 46 years. Superficial spreading melanoma was as expected the most frequent histotype, whilst nodular melanoma accounted for 4.4% of cases. The analysis of phototypes showed that type II was the most frequently represented (47%), followed by type III (44%); type I and IV were found in less than 5% of patients each. Interestingly, the large majority of patients (82.1%) reported one or more previous sunburns. On the basis of geographical distribution, patients included in the Centre- South Italy were elder than those from North regions (median age at melanoma diagnosis: 50 years vs 45 years; p=0.01); a prevalence of phototype II versus III was documented in the Centre-South patients, whilst an opposite distribution was observed in the patients included in the North regions. On the basis of gender distribution, females were characterised by a slight prevalence of phototype II (51% vs 42%; p=0.004), whilst males underwent more frequently sunburns (86% vs 78%; p=0.001). A higher risk of thick melanoma was associated with younger age, identification by relatives and elevation as principal modification; on the other hand, the occurrence of nodular melanoma was significantly associated with sun exposure during the central hours of the day (risk ratio: 5.31). CONCLUSIONS: The identification of different risk factors could be the basis upon which targeted prevention strategies should be developed aimed to reduce the population exposure at risk factors and to increase early diagnosis.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11570/1993424
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