Deaths From Melanoma—United States, 1973-1992

To characterize the distribution of deaths from melanoma in the United States, CDC analyzed national mortality data for 1973 through 1992 and summarized the results of that analysis.

Abstract

Approximately three fourths of all skin cancer-associated deaths are caused by melanoma. During 1973-1991, the incidence of melanoma increased approximately 4% each year.1In addition, the incidence of melanoma is increasing faster than that of any other cancer.2To characterize the distribution of deaths from melanoma in the United States, CDC analyzed national mortality data for 1973 through 1992. This report summarizes the results of that analysis. Decedents for whom the underlying cause of death was melanoma (International Classification of Diseases, Adapted, Ninth Revision, codes 172.0-172.9) were identified from public-use, mortality data tapes from 1973 through 1992.3The denominators for rate calculations were derived from U.S. census population estimates.4,5Rates were directly standardized to the age distribution of the 1970 U.S. population and were analyzed by state, age group, sex, year, and race. To increase the precision of the rates presented, race was characterized as white