ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To analyse the incidence and mortality of melanoma in the province of Vojvodina - the north part of Serbia- from the epidemiologic and clinical point of view. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we used databases of the Cancer Registry of Vojvodina, Oncology Institute of Vojvodina in Sremska Kamenica; Clinical Centre of Vojvodina in Novi Sad; Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina in Novi Sad; and Institute of Public Health of Serbia in Belgrade. RESULTS: The incidence and mortality of melanoma in Vojvodina is permanently increasing over the last three decades. The number of newly diagnosed and deceased patients was higher in men and in women in Vojvodina than in central Serbia. Considering the incidence rate, the region of Vojvodina would be placed in the middle of the European countries. The results are more unfavorable with mortality, especially in male population, similar to the range of higher mortality rates among European countries. CONCLUSION: These upsetting facts call for improvement of primary and secondary prevention. Education of the population, continuous efforts to recognize groups of population at high risk for developing melanoma and detection of early phases of the disease increases the chances for cure and significantly reduces treatment costs.
