NONSOLAR FACTORS IN MELANOMA RISK

Sun exposure plays the leading part in most epidemiologic literature on the etiology of cutaneous melanoma. This article intends to place nonsolar factors on the stage. A variety of nonsolar factors have been suggested and studied as possible causes of cutaneous melanoma. Hinds reviewed nonsolar factors in the etiology of malignant melanoma.1 He speculated that solar exposure cannot explain all the epidemiologic patterns of malignant melanoma and discussed the possible role of trauma, dietary factors, endocrine factors, occupational exposures, viruses, and drugs. In this article we summarize many of these theories and evidence for and against these factors. Emphasis is laid on the effects of occupational exposures. Genetic, reproductive, and dietary factors are discussed in other articles in this issue and therefore are beyond the scope of this review. © 1992.