[Characteristics of melanoma in Mexicans seen at "La Raza" National Medical Center].

Background: Melanoma is the third most common type of skin cancer in Mexico and represents 75% of skin cancer deaths. Dermoscopy is a diagnostic tool that increases early detection of melanoma compared to naked eye examination.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, dermoscopic and histological characteristics of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma treated at the "La Raza" National Medical Center.

Material and methods: A retrospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out from March 1998 to December 2013, with 187 histologically confirmed cases, considering: sex, age, skin phototype, history, topography of the lesion, dermoscopic pattern, metastasis at the time of diagnosis and histological subtype, Breslow index and Clark index, using the chi-square test as a non-parametric statistical method to analyze the data obtained.

Results: Most patients had skin phototype III and the most affected location was the lower limb. Clinically, acral lentiginous melanomas and nodular melanomas were the most observed. The most common dermoscopic finding was the multicomponent pattern. Clinically and histologically, the most frequent subtype associated with metastasis was nodular melanoma. Acral lentiginous melanoma was more common among patients without metastasis.

Conclusions: Unfortunately, melanoma is still diagnosed in advanced stages in Mexico; for its early recognition, training in the use of dermoscopy and greater awareness about melanoma in the Mexican population must be encouraged.