The burden of cutaneous melanoma and status of preventive measures in Central and South America

Due to incomplete registration and different registration practices, reliable and comparable data on melanoma were difficult to obtain; thus it is likely that the true burden of melanoma in Central and South America has been underestimated. The different characteristics of the cutaneous melanoma patient population in terms of anatomical site and histological type distribution imply a need for adapted primary and secondary prevention measures. The generally high ambient ultraviolet radiation levels require sufficient sun protection measures.