Summary of Evidence
Interventions
Benefits
Harms
Note: Separate PDQ summaries on Prevention of Skin Cancer, Skin Cancer
Treatment, and Levels of Evidence for Cancer Screening and Prevention Studies are also available.
Interventions
The only widely proposed screening procedure for melanomatous skin cancer is visual examination of the skin, including both self examination and clinical examination.
Benefits
Based on poor evidence, visual examination of the skin in asymptomatic individuals leads to a reduction in mortality from melanomatous skin cancer.
Harms
Based on fair though unquantified evidence, visual examination of the skin in asymptomatic individuals may lead to unavoidable increases in harmful consequences. These include extensive surgery or complications of diagnostic or treatment interventions. Other harmful consequences are overdiagnosis, and the psychological effects of being labeled with a potentially fatal disease.
Levels of Evidence A. Study Design: (Level of Evidence 5) - 5: Opinions of respected authorities based on clinical experience, descriptive
studies, or reports of expert committees.
B. Internal Validity: Fair. C. Consistency: Multiple studies; small number of participants—no consistency.
Back to Top
Next Section > |