Biomaterial Database

Fair complexion and risk of malignant melanoma of the skin based on experience from the Danish Cancer Registry. 1993

A Osterlind

Danish Cancer Registry, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Copenhagen.

Our Danish study shows that many pigmented naevi, a tendency to freckle and light hair colours are significant, important, and independent host factors which increase the risk of development of malignant melanoma of the skin. These results are in line with what has been consistently shown in previous and in more recent case-control studies. Light hair colour may be a measure of light complexion. The finding that individuals with a large number of naevi, a tendency to freckle and a sensitive skin constitute a risk group may be of importance. Such individuals could be warned about signs of early melanoma development and be instructed to avoid excessive sun exposure, especially damaging sunburn, with the aim of reducing melanoma mortality and melanoma incidence, respectively.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008545	Melanoma	A malignant neoplasm derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, which may occur in the skin of any part of the body, in the eye, or, rarely, in the mucous membranes of the genitalia, anus, oral cavity, or other sites. It occurs mostly in adults and may originate de novo or from a pigmented nevus or malignant lentigo. Melanomas frequently metastasize widely, and the regional lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and brain are likely to be involved. The incidence of malignant skin melanomas is rising rapidly in all parts of the world. (Stedman, 25th ed; from Rook et al., Textbook of Dermatology, 4th ed, p2445)	Malignant Melanoma,Malignant Melanomas,Melanoma, Malignant,Melanomas,Melanomas, Malignant
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009508	Nevus, Pigmented	A nevus containing melanin. The term is usually restricted to nevocytic nevi (round or oval collections of melanin-containing nevus cells occurring at the dermoepidermal junction of the skin or in the dermis proper) or moles, but may be applied to other pigmented nevi.	Nevus, Melanocytic,Nevi, Melanocytic,Nevi, Pigmented,Pigmented Moles,Melanocytic Nevi,Melanocytic Nevus,Pigmented Nevi,Pigmented Nevus
D012042	Registries	The systems and processes involved in the establishment, support, management, and operation of registers, e.g., disease registers.	Parish Registers,Population Register,Parish Register,Population Registers,Register, Parish,Register, Population,Registers, Parish,Registers, Population,Registry
D003718	Denmark	A country in northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. The capital is Copenhagen.	Faeroe Islands,Faroe Islands
D005127	Eye Color	Color of the iris.	Color, Eye,Colors, Eye,Eye Colors
D005260	Female		Females
D006200	Hair Color	Color of hair or fur.	Color, Hair,Colors, Hair,Hair Colors
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man