How Do Melanoma Guidelines from Different Organizations Compare?

Better evidence was linked to greater consensus, but when data were scarce, guidance varied.

Melanoma is a serious malignancy that is responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths. Several highly respected organizations throughout the world have published evidence-based guidelines for the appropriate care of melanoma patients. The authors of this review compared guidelines created by organizations in four geographic regions — the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand.

The recommendations were consistent on a number of points:

Good evidence is lacking to support a benefit from routine total body melanoma screening on morbidity, survival, or quality of life. (Some groups recommend such screening in high-risk situations — immunosuppression; large numbers of nevi or >5 atypical nevi; childhood radiation; strong family hist…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)