Population‐based incidence and melanoma‐specific survival of cutaneous malignant melanoma in a Colombian population 2000–2009

Background Demographic, clinical, and morphological characteristics of cutaneous melanoma are unknown for the Colombian population. We aim to provide these characteristics as well as population‐based incidence and survival data. Methods All patients with an invasive cutaneous melanoma diagnosed in the period 2000–2009 registered in the population‐based cancer registry of the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga were included for analysis (n = 169). Age‐standardized incidence rates were calculated and melanoma‐specific and overall survival estimated with follow‐up until June 9, 2016, using Kaplan–Meier methodology, stratifying for gender, anatomical localization, and type of affiliation to the social security system. Results The age‐standardized melanoma incidence rate was 1.7 per 100,000, with lower limbs being the most affected body sites (42.6% of all melanomas). A high proportion of melanomas presented on the plants or palms (16%) and under the nails (7.1%); at least 24.3% of melanomas were ulcerated, and 21.1% had a Breslow thickness more than 2 mm. Melanoma‐specific 5‐year survival was 79.3%, with worst survival for melanomas localized on the plants (64.6%) and subungual areas (55.6%). Affiliation to the subsidized type of affiliation to the social security system was statistically significantly (P = 0.003) associated with poorer survival (68.8%) compared to the special regimes (95.8%). Conclusions Melanoma is a relatively rare cancer in Colombia with mainly the acral sites, high proportion of thick and ulcerated melanomas, and relatively poor survival being distinct features, indicating the need for tailor‐made primary and secondary prevention strategies. Better training of pathologists in the difficult field of melanoma would improve precision of available data.