TY - JOUR T1 - A conceptual framework for advancing melanoma health disparities research AU - Hernandez C, Mermelstein RJ Y1 - 2009/12/01 N1 - 10.1001/archdermatol.2009.316 JO - Archives of Dermatology SP - 1442 EP - 1446 VL - 145 IS - 12 N2 - Health disparities may be defined as “differences in incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States.”1(p7) In this issue of the Archives, Hu et al2 retrospectively compared the incidence of melanoma for white non-Hispanics, white Hispanics, and blacks. Their study detected significantly more advanced melanomas at presentation for white Hispanics and blacks in the state of Florida than for white non-Hispanic patients. This study adds to a growing body of literature that identifies a pervasive and persistent disparity in the stage of melanoma diagnosis between Hispanic and black patients vs white patients. SN - 0003-987X M3 - doi: 10.1001/archdermatol.2009.316 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archdermatol.2009.316 ER -