Nationwide pilot survey of cutaneous melanoma in Brazil

Abstract Background The Brazilian Caucasian population makes up 44.5% of the number found in the USA. Based on an extrapolation of melanomas in Caucasians found in the US and proportionally maintained in Brazil, it can be estimated that we should expect about 44,000 new melanomas annually in our country. According to the National Cancer Institute (INCA), annually, Brazil has a forecast of 8450 new melanomas per year. The present study aims to survey melanomas in 2019 in pathology laboratories. Project design and methods A multicenter, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted. Melanoma reports were collected from pathology laboratories across Brazil from January 1 to December 31, 2019, to avoid the potential impact of the Covid-19 pandemia on patient care and diagnostic procedures. Data collected included sociodemographic and topographic characteristics and histopathological characteristics. All laboratories signed a Confidentiality Compliance Term for Data Management. Results A total of 1,825 cases of cutaneous melanoma were diagnosed by 26 pathology laboratories. Gender distribution was balanced, with a slight predominance of females (50.2%). Most patients were 60 years or older (62.6%). The trunk was the most frequent site of lesions (35.7%). Superficial spreading melanoma was the most prevalent histological subtype (54.7%). Breslow’s thickness was found to be 2.35 ± 4.54 mm. Discussion In three states (Bahia, Rio Grande do Norte, and Santa Catarina), reported new cases of melanoma outnumbered the Brazilian National Institute of Cancer (INCA) predicted cases for 2018. The findings suggest a potential underestimation of melanoma cases in some regions compared to INCA predictions. Conclusion The study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and characteristics of cutaneous melanoma in Brazil.

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Publication Details

Journal
Surgical and Experimental Pathology
Published
2026-07-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s42047-026-00252-5
Primary Topic
Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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Nationwide pilot survey of cutaneous melanoma in Brazil

Míriam de Fátima Brasil Engelman, Gisele Alborghetti Nai, Clóvis Klock, Eduardo Bertolli et al.
Surgical and Experimental Pathology
Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
article

Nationwide pilot survey of cutaneous melanoma in Brazil

Míriam de Fátima Brasil Engelman, Gisele Alborghetti Nai, Clóvis Klock, Eduardo Bertolli, Gilles Landman, Luciana Schultz, Thibaut Vieira, Miguel Brandão, Maria Eduarda Rodacki, Karina Munhoz de Paula Alves Coelho, Daniela Savi, Renato Marchiori Bakos, Daniela Mayumi Takano, Luzete Cristina Silva Granero, Nathanael de Freitas Pinheiro, Luiz Antônio Rodrigues de Freitas, Maria Beatriz Shiozawa, Heráclito Maia, Nadja Aparecida Lorencette, Gabriela Di Giunta Funchal, Juliana Cordeiro, Ruberley Acosta Moreira, Pedro Bramorski, Orlando Fermozelli Rodrigues Junior, Beatriz Moreira Leite, Nathalia Muraiviechi Passos, Caroline Santos Silva, Juan Maceira, Igor Santos Costa, Maria Luísa de Lima Landman, Flávio Cavarsan, Aryon de Almeida Barbosa Junior, Rodrigo Ramella Munhoz
article en

Abstract

Abstract Background The Brazilian Caucasian population makes up 44.5% of the number found in the USA. Based on an extrapolation of melanomas in Caucasians found in the US and proportionally maintained in Brazil, it can be estimated that we should expect about 44,000 new melanomas annually in our country. According to the National Cancer Institute (INCA), annually, Brazil has a forecast of 8450 new melanomas per year. The present study aims to survey melanomas in 2019 in pathology laboratories. Project design and methods A multicenter, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted. Melanoma reports were collected from pathology laboratories across Brazil from January 1 to December 31, 2019, to avoid the potential impact of the Covid-19 pandemia on patient care and diagnostic procedures. Data collected included sociodemographic and topographic characteristics and histopathological characteristics. All laboratories signed a Confidentiality Compliance Term for Data Management. Results A total of 1,825 cases of cutaneous melanoma were diagnosed by 26 pathology laboratories. Gender distribution was balanced, with a slight predominance of females (50.2%). Most patients were 60 years or older (62.6%). The trunk was the most frequent site of lesions (35.7%). Superficial spreading melanoma was the most prevalent histological subtype (54.7%). Breslow’s thickness was found to be 2.35 ± 4.54 mm. Discussion In three states (Bahia, Rio Grande do Norte, and Santa Catarina), reported new cases of melanoma outnumbered the Brazilian National Institute of Cancer (INCA) predicted cases for 2018. The findings suggest a potential underestimation of melanoma cases in some regions compared to INCA predictions. Conclusion The study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and characteristics of cutaneous melanoma in Brazil.

Surgical and Experimental PathologyVol. 9(1)
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (BR), Sugarcane Research Center (Brazil) (BR), Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (BR), Centro Universitário Curitiba (BR), Universidade de Fortaleza (BR), Liga Contra el Cancer (PE), Instituto Argentino de Diagnóstico y Tratamiento (AR), Methodist University of Piracicaba (BR), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (BR), Universidade da Região de Joinville (BR), Diagnostico Maipú (AR), Universidade Regional de Blumenau (BR), Universidade de Cuiabá (BR), Instituto de Diagnóstico e Investigaciones Metabólicas (AR), Forest Science and Research Institute (BR), Universidade de Sorocaba (BR), Grupo Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte (BR), Siporex (Brazil) (BR), Hospital Municipal São José (BR), Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago University Hospital (BR), Secretaria da Educação do Estado da Bahia (BR), Instituto de Tecnologia de Pernambuco (BR), Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina (BR), Hospital das Clínicas Samuel Libânio (BR), Instituto Florestal (BR), Instituto de Oncologia do Paraná (BR), Fundação Faculdade de Medicina (BR), Hospital Sírio-Libanês (BR), Associação Paulista de Medicina (BR), Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica (BR), Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires (AR), Hospital São Paulo (BR), Centro de Pesquisas Oncológicas (BR), Universidade Salvador (BR), Pemex (Mexico) (MX)
Pfizer
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 11%
Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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