[Stage distribution of malignant melanomas in a Hungarian centre].

Introduction: Survival of patients with malignant melanoma primarily depends on tumor stage. Hungarian National Cancer Registry does not specify tumors according to TNM stages.

Aim: The authors aimed to survey the stage distribution of melanomas at the Department of Dermatology, Dermatooncology and Venerology, Semmelweis University.

Method: 1160 patients (558 males and 602 females, aged 60.5±16 and 57±17 years, respectively) diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma between 2004-2009 were included.

Results: In comparison with international studies, the case distribution was favorable in stages IA and IV, i.e. the proportion of early melanomas was relatively high (IA: 43.8%), while the incidence in stage IV was low (0.4%). In stages IB-IIA the incidence was significantly lower, while in IIC, IIIA, IIIB it was higher as compared to published data from Western-Europe, Australia and the United States.

Conclusions: The study underlines the necessity of prevention and awareness campaigns that may result in increase of early diagnosis of melanomas.