1. Ultraviolet light exposure, pigmentary traits and the development of melanocytic naevi and cutaneous melanoma. A case-control study of the German Central Malignant Melanoma Registry.
- Author
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Breitbart M, Garbe C, Büttner P, Weiss J, Soyer HP, Stocker U, Krüger S, Breitbart EW, Weckbecker J, Panizzon R, Bahmer F, Tilgen W, Guggenmoos-Holzmann I, and Orfanos CE
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Case-Control Studies, Female, Germany epidemiology, Humans, Incidence, Linear Models, Male, Melanoma epidemiology, Multivariate Analysis, Nevus, Pigmented epidemiology, Odds Ratio, Risk Factors, Skin Neoplasms epidemiology, Skin Pigmentation physiology, Melanoma etiology, Nevus, Pigmented etiology, Skin Neoplasms etiology, Skin Pigmentation genetics, Sunburn complications, Ultraviolet Rays adverse effects
- Abstract
The present study firstly aimed at understanding the relationship between sun exposure, pigmentary traits and the history of sunburns. Secondly, the significance of UV-exposure for cutaneous melanoma and for melanocytic naevi was investigated. The case-controlled study comprised 513 patients with primary cutaneous melanoma and 498 controls matched by age and gender. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to study melanoma risk factors. The number of common melanocytic naevi was associated with age, gender, the history of sunburns and UV-exposure during holidays (odds-ratio = 1.9; 95% confidence interval = [1.1, 3.4]) for 3 weeks or more. The number of atypical melanocytic naevi was significantly related to age, gender, pigmentary traits, the history of sunburns and UV-exposure during holidays (odds-ratio = 3.5; 95% confidence interval = [1.4, 9.0]) for 2 months or more. The results of the present study showed that both the history of sunburn and intensive sun exposure during holidays were important for the development of melanocytic naevi and, therefore, indirectly for cutaneous melanoma. In addition, a particular type of pigmentation was found to be related to atypical melanocytic naevi.
- Published
- 1997
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