Introduction: In parallel to an epidemiological study on the new cases of melanoma reported in the Vendée area in 1997, private dermatologists conducted a clinical analysis of the characteristics of melanomas (including Dubreuilh's melanoma) and of the population concerned.
Patients and methods: For each patient in whom a melanoma had been diagnosed, the dermatologists completed a standardized sheet that included the identification, phototype (comparing the distribution with that of the local population, studied in all the consultants during a randomly selected week), the personal and family history of melanoma, the existence of severe sunburn and exposure to artificial ultra-violet rays, the screening method, the time lapse before treatment, the impact of information campaigns, the number of nevi, atypical or not, and the characteristics of the tumor. The exeresis method and the histological characteristics (type, Clark's score and Breslow's index) were also noted.
Results: In 1997, the 16 local dermatologists diagnosed 97 melanomas in 55 women and 42 men with a mean age of 64 years. There was no statistically significant difference between the melanomas of the men and those of the women, other than their localization. Photoype II was significantly more frequent in the population exhibiting a melanoma. Sun exposure was moderate or intensive for three thirds of the patients. Past history of severe sunburn was twofold more frequent in the patients exhibiting a melanoma on the trunk. The association of many nevi was noted in a little more than half of the patients, and with atypical nevi in 5.2 p.cent. The elements that alerted the patients were recorded. The time lapse before diagnosis was calculated in months for nodular and in years for superficial melanomas. Clark's score and Breslow's index are presented in a table.
Discussion: Our study underlines several interesting features: the fairly high mean age on discovery, a high rate of invasive melanomas, and patients less well informed than in the Ile de France area. These results should open the debate on the best way to educate the population concerned so as to reduce the incidence of this malignant tumor.