Table 3.

Melanoma features in Caucasians and People of Color

	Caucasians	People of color
Frequency of disease	3rd most common skin cancer; incidence increasing	3rd most common skin cancer; incidence increasing in Hispanics
Risk factors	Sun exposure, fair skin, family history, increased number of nevi, dysplastic nevi	Sun exposure; unknown for acral melanoma
Clinical presentation	Dark, rapidly spreading macules or patches arising from pigmented nevi	Dark, rapidly spreading macules or patches arising from pigmented nevi; Rapidly changing pigmented band on the nail(Hutchinson’s sign)
Anatomic distribution	Often on trunk or lower legs	Often on palmar, plantar and subungual areas (acral melanoma)