Short summary

We propose a study based on data from the Danish Cancer Registry (DCR), the Danish Melanoma Database (DMD) and the Danish Pathology Register with the purpose of establishing the completeness of the DCR and DMD and the validity of certain key severity - and prognosis - related variables in the two registries.

Rationale

In Denmark, there are currently two nationwide registries available for observational studies of malignant melanoma (MM): the Danish Cancer Registry (DCR) and the Danish Melanoma Database (DMD). Reporting of incident cases of MM to the DCR is compulsory at a national level. Although DCR data are considered of high standard internationally, data on several important markers of severity and prognosis of MM are lacking. Such information is, however, routinely collected and reported to DMD. We therefore envision that a combination of data from the DCR and DMD will provide a solid foundation for high-quality research on MM epidemiology that will be of the highest standard at an international level.

Description of the cohort

The study period will run from 1^st January 2004 to 31^st December 2014. Cases included in our study cohort are all patients with a diagnosis of malignant melanoma from DCR and DMD.

The DCR has recorded incident cases of cancer in Denmark since 1943. Cancer diagnoses in the DCR are in our study period recorded according to the ICD-10 classification.

The DMD was founded in 1985 with the purpose of improving the prognosis of MM. The data collected include clinical and histological characteristics of the melanomas

The Danish Pathology Registry is also a nationwide registry. The registry contains pathology results from hospitals as well as private practicing specialists. Pathology diagnoses are coded according to a Danish version of the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED). 

Collaborating researchers and departments

Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital

Institute of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark

• David Gaist, MD

Danish Cancer Society Research Center

Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen

• Søren Friis, MD

Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark

• Anton Pottegaard, MSc

Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital

• Sigrun Alba Johannesdottir Schmidt, MD

Department of Plasticsurgery, Herlev Hospital

• Lisbet Rosenkrantz Holmich, MD