Malignant melanoma in East Anglia, England

A series of 137 patients with primary malignant melanoma of skin occurring in the Cambridge area in 1961–71 is reviewed. The histological material has been classified into lentigo maligna melanoma, superficial spreading melanoma and nodular melanoma, using the criteria of Clark et al. (1969). Consideration of type, site and incidence of melanoma when compared with previously reported series from Boston and Sydney supports the hypothesis that sunlight induces malignant melanoma in unexposed skin.