经年龄调整后的恶性黑素瘤的发病率在美国是21/10万人口,英国是17/10万人口,澳大利亚是50/10万人口。[6]National Cancer Institute. SEER cancer statistics review, 1975-2011. December 2014. http://seer.cancer.gov/ (last accessed 10 November 2016).http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2011/[7]Cancer Research UK. Skin cancer incidence statistics. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/ (last accessed 10 November 2016).http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/skin/incidence/uk-skin-cancer-incidence-statistics[8]Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australian cancer incidence and mortality (ACIM) books: melanoma of the skin for Australia (ICD10 C43). 2016. http://www.aihw.gov.au/ (last accessed 10 November 2016).http://www.aihw.gov.au/acim-books/澳大利亚的黑素瘤患病率为全球最高。[9]Nestle FO, Kerl H. Melanoma. In: Bolognia JL, Jorizzo Jl, Rapini RP, eds. Dermatology, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2007:1745-1769.
在美国,恶性黑素瘤是男性第五大、女性第七大常见的恶性肿瘤,且两性的发病率均在持续增长。[2]Siegel R, Naishadham D, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2013. CA Cancer J Clin. 2013;63:11-30.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23335087?tool=bestpractice.com截止 2009 年,黑素瘤终生发病风险大约为男性 1/35,女性 1/54,[2]Siegel R, Naishadham D, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2013. CA Cancer J Clin. 2013;63:11-30.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23335087?tool=bestpractice.com而 2002 年的发病风险分别为 1/52 和 1/77。[10]Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E, et al. Cancer statistics, 2006. CA Cancer J Clin. 2006;56:106-130.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16514137?tool=bestpractice.com 2013 年,美国预计有 76,690 人诊断为黑素瘤,9,480 例死亡。[2]Siegel R, Naishadham D, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2013. CA Cancer J Clin. 2013;63:11-30.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23335087?tool=bestpractice.com
除了上述列出的数据,某些程度上也暗示了恶性黑素瘤发病率增加是筛选力度的提高、早期恶性黑素瘤和原位损害的早期检测及借助组织病理学对恶性黑素瘤的诊断标准的变化的标志。[5]Swerlick RA, Chen S. The melanoma epidemic. Is increased surveillance the solution or the problem? Arch Dermatol. 1996;132:881-884.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8712837?tool=bestpractice.com[11]Lamberg L. "Epidemic" of malignant melanoma: true increase or better detection? JAMA. 2002;287:2201.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11980506?tool=bestpractice.com但是,所有 Breslow 厚度分级的黑素瘤的增加、区域性和远端转移性疾病发生率的增加以及黑素瘤相关死亡率的增加则显示出不同的结果。[12]Beddingfield FC. The melanoma epidemic: res ipsa loquitur. Oncologist. 2003;8:459-465.http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/content/8/5/459.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14530499?tool=bestpractice.com尽管任何年龄均可发病,但恶性黑素瘤是年轻人恶性肿瘤最常见的形式之一,也是年轻人肿瘤相关死亡最常见的原因之一。任何性别及种族均可发病,但男性和肤色白皙的人更容易发生恶性黑素瘤。[10]Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E, et al. Cancer statistics, 2006. CA Cancer J Clin. 2006;56:106-130.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16514137?tool=bestpractice.com[13]Rigel DS, Friedman RJ, Kopf AW. The incidence of malignant melanoma in the United States: issues as we approach the 21st century. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1996;34:839-847.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8632084?tool=bestpractice.com