Abstract

In West Virginia from 1959 to 1975 there were 279 deaths caused by malignant melanoma. From 1959 to 1967 there were 8.4 such deaths per year and from 1968 to 1975, 25.4 per year (2P < .0005). This trend was observed throughout the state. The population-adjusted melanoma mortality of 1.45 per 100,000 from 1968 to 1975 contrasts with a rate of only 0.48 per 100,000 during the earlier period from 1959 to 1967. The rate of increase was greater in the southern portion of the state. The highest melanoma mortality was seen in the states major agricultural area, while the lowest rate was seen in its most densely populated urban region. In our community, 102 new melanoma cases were diagnosed from 1969 to 1978. From 1969 to 1973, there were 33 new cases, 6.6 per year, and from 1974 to 1978, 13.8 per year (2P < .01). Men tended to be older at the time of diagnosis. The most common locations of the primary tumors were the lower extremity in women and the trunk and head and neck in men.