Trends in Incidence and Mortality of Primary Cutaneous Melanoma in Serbia Between 2008 and 2022

Background and Objectives: Melanoma is one of the most aggressive malignancies in humans and is associated with an unfavorable prognosis due to its high metastatic potential. In recent decades, increasing incidence and mortality rates have been reported worldwide among Caucasian populations. This study aimed to analyze melanoma incidence and mortality trends in the Republic of Serbia from 2008 to 2022, with a special regard to sex- and age-specific differences. Materials and Methods: A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted using data on all cases of primary cutaneous melanoma (ICD-10 code C43) reported to the Serbian Cancer Registry between 2008 and 2022. Data on newly diagnosed cases and melanoma-related deaths were analyzed by sex and 5-year age groups. Crude rates were calculated per 100,000 populations, whereas age-standardized rates were obtained using direct standardization. Temporal trends were evaluated using the Joinpoint regression analysis. Results: During the study period, 9600 new melanoma cases and 3882 melanoma-related deaths were reported in Serbia. Both incidence and mortality were higher in men (52.5% and 60.1%, respectively). Age-standardized incidence rates remained relatively stable in both sexes, with a slight increase in men (AAPC = 0.9%; 95% CI: −0.5 to 2.3) and a stable trend in women (AAPC = −0.1%; 95% CI: −1.5 to 1.3). Age-standardized mortality rates showed a mild, statistically insignificant decline overall (AAPC = −0.6% in men and −0.9% in women). The calculated mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) shows consistently higher values in men compared to women. A significant increase in incidence was observed among men aged 70–74 years (AAPC = 3.1%; p = 0.011), while mortality significantly decreased in women aged 40–44 years (APC = −7.0%; p = 0.017). Conclusions: Melanoma incidence in Serbia remained relatively stable between 2008 and 2022, with a modest increase primarily among older men. Mortality trends showed a slight decline, suggesting potential improvements in early detection and treatment outcomes.