Gesundheitswesen 2017; 79(08/09): 656-804
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1605770
Vorträge
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Recent trends in relative survival from melanoma in Germany stratified by age group, T-stage, and histological subtype

A Brunßen
1   University of Luebeck, Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Luebeck
,
L Jansen
2   German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, Heidelberg
,
N Eisemann
1   University of Luebeck, Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Luebeck
,
J Weberpals
2   German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, Heidelberg
,
A Katalinic
3   University of Luebeck, Institute for Cancer Epidemiology, Luebeck
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
01 September 2017 (online)

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Background:

Prognosis of melanoma patients improved in Europe between 1999 – 2007. In Germany, prognosis did not change significantly during 2002 – 2006. We sought to estimate up-to-date 5- and 10-year melanoma relative survival (RS) stratified by prognostic factors and identify recent trends.

Methods:

Data from 12 cancer registries covering a population of 28.2 million inhabitants (34.9% of Germany) were analysed. We included patients with a primary cutaneous malignant melanoma (ICD-10: C43.X) diagnosed in 1997 – 2013 who were at least 15 years old. Death certificate only cases were excluded. Five- and 10-year RS were estimated by period analysis. For 10-year RS analyses, we excluded cases 75 years or older. Analyses stratified by sex, age group, histology, tumour stage, and body site were conducted. We performed age standardisation according to International Cancer Survival Standards.

Results:

In the analysis, 82,901 melanoma cases were included of which 51% were female. Median age at diagnosis was 62 years. Five- and 10-year RS in 2007 – 2013 were 92.4% and 90.8%, respectively. RS was higher in women. Prognosis worsened with increasing age and higher tumour stage. In superficial spreading (SSM) and lentigo maligna melanoma RS was high, whereas it was lower in nodular, acral lentiginous and „other“ melanoma. Melanoma on arms had highest RS, while RS of melanoma on unknown or overlapping sites was lowest. Five- and 10-year RS increased significantly from 2005 – 2007 and 2008 – 2010 to 2011 – 2013 by 3.5 and 3.3% units, respectively. Increase of 5-year RS was particularly strong for cases aged 65 and above. In melanoma of „other“ histology, 5- and 10-year RS improved significantly. Ten-year RS also significantly increased for men with SSM (+3.3% units), women with T3 melanoma (+5.4% units), and men with T4 melanoma (+11.4% units).

Conclusion:

Long-term RS of melanoma cases in Germany has significantly improved. Recent trends stratified by prognostic factors were identified.