Malignant melanomas in the South African Bantu

Abstract

Summary Fifty cases of melanomas occurring in purely pigmented races have been analysed. The series supports the view that the incidence of melanoma in pigmented races is rare. The age and sex incidence appears to be much the same in pigmented as in non-pigmented skin. Melanoma, when it does occur in pigmented skin, occurs predominantly in non-pigmented areas of the body. There is nothing to suggest that melanoma occurring in the pigmented skin runs a less virulent course than that occurring in non-pigmented skin.