Primary cutaneous melanoma: an 18-year study.

Background: Primary cutaneous melanoma still constitutes the main cause of skin cancer death in developed countries, and its incidence in recent years has been increasing in a steady, worrisome manner.

Objectives: This study evaluated the clinical, epidemiological and demographic aspects of this disease, and correlated them with patient prognosis.

Methods: Using epidemiologic and clinical data, we analyzed 84 patients with mild to severe primary cutaneous melanoma treated between 1990 and 2007.