Epidemiology of Malignant Melanoma: Pigmentary Traits, Ultraviolet Radiation, and the Identification of High-Risk Populations (original) (raw)

Abstract

We report on a case-control study begun in 1979 to identify factors responsible for the observed high incidence of malignant melanoma among Caucasians. Interview data were collected on a comprehensive set of risk factors, including pigmentary characteristics, ultraviolet light exposure, family history, reproductive factors, drug use, ethnicity, smoking and dietary history, and chemical exposures. Quantification of risk factors was emphasized, whereas previous case-control studies had relied on qualitative assessments of exposure. A profile of high-risk individuals was to be developed for the purpose of identifying a subpopulation at whom future monitoring for malignant melanoma could be directed. In this report we present results for a subset of the available risk factor data, including pigmentary traits, sun exposure, and family history variables. Because of current interest in the relationship between fluorescent light exposure and melanoma risk (Beral et al. 1982; Maxwell and Elwood 1983; Pasternack et al. 1983) we include these data as well. The remaining risk factors will be analyzed in detail in subsequent reports.

This work was supported in part by Grant OH-00915 (to BSP) from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and Center Grants CA-16087 and CA-13343 from the National Cancer Institute and ES-00260 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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Abbreviations

RR :

relative risk(s)

CI :

confidence interval(s)

χ 2 :

chi-square

df :

degree(s) of freedom

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Institute of Environmental Medicine, NYU Medical Center, New York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
   N. Dubin, M. Moseson & B. S. Pasternack

Authors

1. N. Dubin
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2. M. Moseson
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3. B. S. Pasternack
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Editors and Affiliations

1. Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia, 600 West 10th Avenue, V5Z 4E6, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
   Richard P. Gallagher M.A.

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© 1986 Springer-Verlag Berlin · Heidelberg

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Dubin, N., Moseson, M., Pasternack, B.S. (1986). Epidemiology of Malignant Melanoma: Pigmentary Traits, Ultraviolet Radiation, and the Identification of High-Risk Populations. In: Gallagher, R.P. (eds) Epidemiology of Malignant Melanoma. Recent Results in Cancer Research, vol 102. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-82641-2\_5

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