Incidence and mortality of cutaneous melanoma stratified by sex, age, and age group – An analysis of the Brazilian population from 2013 to 2023

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous melanoma remains the leading cause of skin cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite national awareness campaigns launched by the Brazilian Society of Dermatology since 1999, morbidity and mortality in Brazil remain substantially high. METHODS: We conducted an ecological study using secondary data from DATASUS (Hospital Information System - SIH/SUS, Mortality Information System - SIM/SUS, and population estimates from IBGE). Melanoma cases were identified using ICD-10 code C43 between 2013 and 2023. Incidence rates were calculated per 100,000 inhabitants. RESULTS: A total of 20,087 melanoma cases were reported during the study period. Men accounted for 57.5% of cases, a proportion that remained stable throughout the decade. Annual case counts increased from 1,547 in 2013 to 2,047 in 2023, representing a 32% rise. The South and Southeast regions - historically shaped by European immigration and concentrating the majority of White individuals - reported the highest incidence and mortality, consistent with prior population-based cohort data from southern Brazil. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight a multifactorial scenario in which demographic, behavioral, biological, and structural healthcare determinants converge to shape melanoma burden in Brazil. Sex-specific behavioral factors (lower photo protection adherence, delayed dermatological evaluation among men) and biological differences may contribute to male predominance. Expanding access to early-detection strategies and equitable resource allocation remains essential in a country marked by vast territorial, climatic, and socioeconomic heterogeneity.