Melanoma in Iran: a Retrospective 10-Year Study

Abstract

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Background</span>: Melanoma, the most life-threatening type of skin cancer, is a malignant tumor initiating in melanocytes that rapidly metastasizes and causes death.<br /> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Materials and Methods</span>: In this retrospective study, samples were selected from patients' information files in our Cancer Institute in Tehran with a designed checklist. A total of 322 files were found from 2003 until 2012. Then the raw data were transferred to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 16 and additional analysis was performed by Students t-test. The important variables were considered according to the available information from history of pathology including age, gender, occupation, stage and location of tumor.<br /> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Results</span>: Our data showed that incidence of melanoma has been different in the studied 10-year period according to age. Also, incidence of melanoma was higher in men than women. It was more common in lower limbs. More commonly housewives among women and farmers among men were affected by melanoma.<br /> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Conclusions</span>: Taken together the descriptive data clarified general aspects of this disease for further screening and interventions.