Epidemiology of Melanoma in the Czech Republic in East Bohemia in the Period 2002–2017 and the Effect of the Annual Sunshine Exposure

Aim: The evaluation of the trend in the occurrence of melanoma nodulare, melanoma superficiale, lentigo maligna and melanoma in situ in the period of 2002–2017 in East Bohemia region in the Czech Republic. We examine if the annual numbers of hours of sunshine could affect the number of patients with melanoma. Method: In the peridod of 2002–2017, altogether 2230 patients with new diagnosis of melanoma were examined. We studied 1) If there is some trend in the occurrence of lentigo maligna and melanoma in situ, melanoma superficiale, and melanoma nodulare and if there is a difference in the age of patients with this diagnosis (adjusted calculation of specific kind of melanomas and adjusted calculation of age). 2) If the annual numbers of hours of sunshine affect the trend in the occurrence of melanoma and if the annual numbers of hours of sunshine affect the body site of melanoma. Results and conclusion: Our study confirmed that the number of patients with lentigo maligna and melanoma in situ had increased in East Bohemia region in the period of 2002–2017. The number of melanomas of nodular and superficial type does not increase. The total number of melanomas in this period does not increase either. No difference of the age of patients with melanoma nodulare, superficiale, lentigo maligna and melanoma in situ was confirmed. We confirmed no relation of the annual numbers of hours of sunshine to the number of melanoma and to the body site of melanoma.