Second primary melanomas: Increased risk and decreased time to presentation in patients exposed to tanning beds.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma incidence has increased; the primary modifiable risk factor is ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun or artificial UVR (arUVR) from tanning beds. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients who developed melanoma after arUVR exposure from tanning beds have unique characteristics. METHODS: A retrospective study of 434 melanoma patients was performed. Patients who consented at the initial appointment completed a questionnaire regarding phenotypic traits, medical history, and UVR exposure. RESULTS: Compared with patients aged ≥40 years, younger patients, especially women, had greater lifetime exposure to arUVR. At any age, patients with multiple primary melanomas had a higher probability of exposure to arUVR. For all patients with additional primary melanomas, those exposed to arUVR acquired their second primary melanoma significantly earlier; 67% of patients exposed to arUVR through tanning beds had their second primary diagnosed at the time of or within 1 year of their original diagnosis compared with 28% of nontanners (P = .011). Median time to diagnosis of second primary melanoma in patients exposed to arUVR versus those not exposed was 225 days versus 3.5 years, respectively (P = .027). LIMITATIONS: The study was conducted in 1 geographic area with a relatively small sample size. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide evidence for heightened surveillance in melanoma patients exposed to arUVR.