Melanoma screening
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Melanoma Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Melanoma screening On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Melanoma screening |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Yazan Daaboul, M.D.; Serge Korjian M.D.
Overview
The 1992-1994 free American Academy of Dermatology's National Skin Cancer Early Detection and Screening Program provided broad skin cancer educational information to general public and enabled thousands of free expert skin cancer examinations. The 2001-2005 American Academy of Dermatology National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening Program emphasized on the use of HARMM criteria to identify the higher-risk subgroup of skin cancer screening population via assessment of multiple risk factors for MM hence, both reducing the cost & increasing the yields for suspected MM in future mass screening initiatives. Melanoma Genetics Program identifies the genetic causes of skin cancer, and provides genetic counseling to the individuals with strong family history of melanoma. Dermoscopy usage improves the ability of primary care physicians to triage lesions suggestive of skin cancer, thus saving from unnecessary expert consultations. Combination of dermoscopy and short-term sequential digital dermoscopy imaging (SDDI) in a primary care setting doubles the sensitivity for melanoma diagnosis and leads to >50% chance of reduction in excision or referral of benign pigmented lesions.
Screening
According to different studies going on for so many years, following data is available regarding the different methods/tools and their effectiveness for skin cancer screening:
- From 1992 to 1994, free American Academy of Dermatology's National Skin Cancer Early Detection and Screening Program was launched which provided broad skin cancer educational information to general public and enabled almost 750,000 free expert skin cancer examinations which mostly found out thin, localized stage 1 melanomas with high projected 5-year survival rate
- From 2001 to 2005, American Academy of Dermatology National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening Program was launched which led to the conclusion that HARMM criteria can be used to identify the higher-risk subgroup of skin cancer screening population via assessment of multiple risk factors for MM , which will not only reduce the cost but will also increase the yields for suspected MM in future mass screening initiatives
- Melanoma Genetics Program identifies the genetic causes of skin cancer, and also provides genetic counseling to the individuals having a strong family history of melanoma
- Dermoscopy usage improves the ability of primary care physicians to triage lesions which are suggestive of skin cancer and saves from unnecessary expert consultations
- Combination of dermoscopy and short-term sequential digital dermoscopy imaging (SDDI) in a primary care setting doubles the sensitivity for melanoma diagnosis and also leads to >50% chance of reduction in excision or referral of benign pigmented lesions