Changes in melanoma epidemiological data in Hungary
 
Background
 
The incidence of melanoma has risen steadily in most fair-skinned populations over the past decades. Although the treatment of disseminated melanomas has significantly improved the outcome of disease in patients with advanced disease, the importance of monitoring epidemiological data and the significance of prevention cannot be overemphasized.
 
Objectives and methods
 
In our study, we aimed to analyze data on the incidence, mortality, and mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) of melanoma in Hungary based on databases from the National Health Insurance Fund, the Central Statistical Office, the National Cancer Registry, and the National Institute of Oncology.
 
Results
 
The incidence showed a steady increase between 2001 and 2019, reaching a crude incidence rate of 30/100,000 by 2019, with a slight male predominance. Mortality essentially stagnated at 300-400 deaths per year.  Comparing the 2011-2019 period with the 2015-2019 period, we found that the age-standardized incidence in the total melanoma population showed a 37.6% (p=0.009) increase in the first period, but a significant 3% decrease in the second period (p=0.035).
The MIR value, which, along with incidence and mortality, is a good indicator of a country's oncological care, correlated with the average for Western European countries in 2018, with a value of 0.133 for men and 0.076 for women. The corresponding data for 2012 were 0.16 for men and 0.095 for women.
 
These favorable results are backed up by the database of the National Institute of Oncology as well. In 6,267 patients diagnosed between 2001 and 2018, we found that Breslow tumor thickness decreased significantly, from a median value of 2.00 mm in 2001 to 0.88 mm in 2018. We also demonstrated a significant improvement in disease outcome.
Such promising results were achieved by adhering to the National Cancer Control Program developed in 1993, cooperating with the WHO, through sponsored and voluntary screening tests without compensation, often linked to other events, in cooperation with civil organisations, and through the education of healthcare workers and the general public. In 2007, we joined the EU Melanoma Education and Prevention Campaign, and the Professional College of Dermatology submitted a prevention plan to the government. Both the dermatology and oncology societies operate dermatological oncology sections, one of whose main objectives is the prevention of skin cancer.
 
Conclusion
 
Although the incidence of melanoma has increased in Hungary in recent decades, our data show that newly diagnosed cases have had a better prognosis in recent years, and the incidence appears to be declining as a result of primary and secondary prevention.