Environmental Risk Factors for Malignant Melanoma in Transylvania, Romania

Abstract

Abstract Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer in the whole world and its incidence has increased in all ages of population in recent decades. In Transylvania, Romania the incidence for the disease has increased during the last two years to 24 per 100,000. Therefore, it is necessary to develop more effective public health and earlier diagnosis programs that can reduce the morbidity and mortality of malignant melanoma. A retrospective epidemiologic study was conducted between 2008 -2010 at 250 persons (ages 18-70 ) with malignant melanoma to identify the most important environmental risk factors for the illness. Subjects were interviewed face-to-face in their homes. The roles of constitutional factors and benign nevi in causation of malignant melanoma were also examined. Malignant melanoma was most common in people over 40 and in those younger than 45, women had higher incidence rates than men. High, intermittent exposure to solar UV was a significant risk factor for the development ...