Global perspectives of contemporary epidemiological trends of cutaneous malignant melanoma

Key Points

• To examine contemporary worldwide trends in cutaneous malignant melanoma incidence and mortality while evaluating contributing environmental, genetic, and host factors.
• Reviewed international epidemiological datasets to assess multi-decade trends in cutaneous malignant melanoma incidence and mortality rates among Caucasian and fair-skinned populations.
• Synthesized literature exploring the multifactorial etiology of melanoma, including environmental triggers, inherited susceptibility, and host phenotypic characteristics.
• Cutaneous malignant melanoma incidence has risen substantially across all surveyed Caucasian populations over the past several decades.
• Melanoma-associated mortality rates have increased across most fair-skinned populations worldwide over the same time frame.
• The underlying etiology is driven by complex interactions among environmental exposures, genetic background, and host-specific factors.