A Call for the Development and Implementation of a Targeted National Melanoma Screening Program

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is indicated for patients with thick clinically lymph node‐negative melanoma

“…The vast majority of the patients with thick cutaneous melanoma in the current study were male (70.2%). This sex‐based disparity may support proponents for a targeted melanoma screening program, particularly among older males …”

“…This sex-based disparity may support proponents for a targeted melanoma screening program, particularly among older males. [16][17][18] Since 1992, SLNB has been widely adopted and is considered extremely safe and accurate. 12 Much attention has been focused on the FNR associated with SLNBs.…”

Melanoma Outcomes for Medicare Patients

“…These results suggest that increasing access to dermatologists, particularly for older patients who have higher rates of melanoma, 43 may represent one approach to improving melanoma-related health outcomes from a health policy perspective. The results of this study are especially important in light of the recent editorial by Geller et al 44 highlighting the need for a targeted national melanoma screening program, including legislation that would increase patient access to dermatologists. We hope our findings will strengthen these efforts by providing evidence of the benefits of dermatologist care for patients at higher risk for melanoma, such as those who are 65 years or older.…”

Increasing Burden of Melanoma in the United States

“…If melanoma is truly increasing in all thickness categories and across socioeconomic levels, it will soon become a major concern for an increasingly aging population and their health care providers. Secondary prevention through early detection of melanoma is especially important in reducing mortality in high-risk groups (Geller et al , 2006), including those of lowest SES who demonstrated the sharpest rises in thick melanoma incidence in the California data. Our analysis also highlights the need for continued, detailed surveillance of melanoma occurrence, which in turn, underscores the importance of complete and accurate reporting of all melanoma cases by hospitals and private physicians.…”