Each year, according to Monografia AD - Monografias em saude, occur in the world 160 000 new cases of malignant melanoma (MM), which led to a doubling of the number of cases of MM every 10 to 20 years since the second half of the twentieth century.

In the year 2002 were recorded in the world 160 177 new cases of malignant melanoma monografias, accounting for 1.47% of all cases of cancer recorded in that year. The highest incidence was observed in women - TCC under 81 134 new cases, with respect to the men who showed an incidence of 79 043 new cases (the relationship / wife 0.97) 1. for the year 2008 the likelihood of developing MM in the United States is 1 in 44 in men and 1 in 73 women being in the age of greatest risk from 70 years as a result this year is estimated that if present 59 940 cases of MM in both sexes.

In 2002 there were 41 000 deaths MM with a greater number recorded in men than in women (the male / female 1.2). The mortality rate has undergone changes in several different parts of the world, for example New Zealand and Holland, countries with the highest number of cases of MM, figures showed stable of mortality in recent years, while in other southern countries, central Europe and in route of developing countries in the rate of increase in mortality follows, this project of research in monografias prontas e tcc.

To control the high rates of incidence and mortality produced by MM, in recent years have been practicing a series of campaigns to primary and secondary prevention launched in the countries of greatest impact, but now adopted by several countries in the world. This measure enabled the diagnosis of injuries in the early stages where there is still a big commitment skin, this fact has been seen reflected in the change of focus, where the vast majority of cases is to thin injuries while noting an increase in minor injuries and intermediate deep. The first studies to assess the impact of campaigns of prevention were promising, showing that if after those could diagnose up to 62% of injuries thin compared with 38% of that existed before and that the deep lesions fell to 15% compared to 34% background .

A recent study in Scotland showed that the proportion represented by thin lesions was 72% compared with 38% that existed in 1985.

Although the campaigns of education led to advances in diagnosis has yet to demonstrate that could be effective in reducing the mortality rate. This suggests that there are still unidentified factors that would have an important role in the presentation of melanoma.

In Brazil, as in many Latin American countries the true incidence of this disease is unknown.