Up-to-date results on survival of patients with melanoma in Germany

Background Prior analyses of survival of patients with primary cutaneous malignant melanoma from Germany were based only on small populations and need to be updated. Objectives We give a detailed overview of relative 5-year survival by sex, age group, histology, tumour stage and body site, and of time trends in a population of 33 million (40% of Germany), and compare survival in the federal states. Methods Conventional and model-based period analysis using the Ederer II method was applied to patients with melanoma diagnosed during 1997-2006 in Germany to assess 5-year relative survival (RS) rates and time trends. Results In total, 37 155 melanoma cases were included. Overall age-adjusted 5-year RS for the time period 2002-2006 was 91.9% for women and 87.0% for men. Survival differences by age group, histology, tumour stage and body site were found. No significant overall trend (2002-2006) was seen either in women or in men. Differences in survival between federal states were small; no clear pattern was seen. Conclusions Based on the most recent and high-quality data from population-based cancer registries a comprehensive picture on melanoma survival in Germany was given. Survival from cutaneous malignant melanoma was high compared with other cancer sites and did not change during the analysed period 2002-2006. Patterns in melanoma survival by sex, age, tumour stage, histology and body site were in good agreement with previously published findings. No relevant differences between federal states were found.