Melanoma mortality dropped significantly in one German state after a population-wide screening project, while mortality rates remained stable in the rest of Germany.
The effects of organized skin cancer screening on diagnosis and rates of morbidity and mortality are unknown. A prospective, national, randomized trial would be prohibitively expensive, and smaller studies lack sufficient power to demonstrate significance. In Germany, a monumental compromise allowed these authors to evaluate the feasibility of systematic population-based skin cancer screening.
The SCREEN (Skin Cancer Research to Provide Evidence for Effectiveness of Screening in Northern Germany) project was carried out between July 2003 and June 2004 in Schleswig-Holstein, a northern German state with a population of 2.8 million. Screening was offered to state-insured residents of Schleswig-Holstein aged 20 years or older who were not alrea…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant / advisory board Lubax; WorldCare Clinical
EquityLubax
Grant / Research support NIH; Department of Defense; American Skin Association; Piramal
Editorial boardsBritish Journal of Dermatology; Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology; Journal of Investigative Dermatology
Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Chair, Skin Cancer and Melanoma Committee); American Board of Dermatology (Director)
DisclosuresConsultant / advisory board Lubax; WorldCare Clinical
EquityLubax
Grant / Research support NIH; Department of Defense; American Skin Association; Piramal
Editorial boardsBritish Journal of Dermatology; Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology; Journal of Investigative Dermatology
Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Chair, Skin Cancer and Melanoma Committee); American Board of Dermatology (Director)