BACKGROUND: Since the year 2000 a melanoma/skin cancer screening campaign has been organized annually in Greece in the context of the Euromelanoma Screening Day Campaign. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyse the characteristics of the screened population, to recognize relevant risk factors and to identify the cases of histologically confirmed malignant melanoma (MM) in individuals with suspicious skin lesions. METHODS: An analysis of the completed screening forms from the years 2000-2004 was performed with respect to relevant demographic, epidemiological and clinical data. RESULTS: A total of 9723 individuals were screened, most of whom where below the age of 50 years (71%), female (59%), and of skin phototype II and III (76%). Sunburn during childhood was reported in 47% of participants, while 5% of the screened population had a personal or family history of melanoma. On clinical examination, 14.4% had actinic keratoses, 31.2% had dysplastic nevi, while 6.4% carried a presumptive diagnosis of non-melanoma skin cancer. In the 2003-2004 screening campaign, 19 out of the 171 clinically suspicious lesions were histologically proven to be MM, the majority of which (58%) were 'thin' melanomas (Breslow's thickness of<or=1 mm) of the superficial spreading type. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that, a melanoma/skin cancer screening programme in a Mediterranean country, supported by an intense publicity campaign, attracted many individuals at risk for skin cancer and detected mostly thin melanomas of the superficial spreading type.
BACKGROUND: Since the year 2000 a melanoma/skin cancer screening campaign has been organized annually in Greece in the context of the Euromelanoma Screening Day Campaign. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyse the characteristics of the screened population, to recognize relevant risk factors and to identify the cases of histologically confirmed malignant melanoma (MM) in individuals with suspicious skin lesions. METHODS: An analysis of the completed screening forms from the years 2000-2004 was performed with respect to relevant demographic, epidemiological and clinical data. RESULTS: A total of 9723 individuals were screened, most of whom where below the age of 50 years (71%), female (59%), and of skin phototype II and III (76%). Sunburn during childhood was reported in 47% of participants, while 5% of the screened population had a personal or family history of melanoma. On clinical examination, 14.4% had actinic keratoses, 31.2% had dysplastic nevi, while 6.4% carried a presumptive diagnosis of non-melanoma skin cancer. In the 2003-2004 screening campaign, 19 out of the 171 clinically suspicious lesions were histologically proven to be MM, the majority of which (58%) were 'thin' melanomas (Breslow's thickness of<or=1 mm) of the superficial spreading type. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that, a melanoma/skin cancer screening programme in a Mediterranean country, supported by an intense publicity campaign, attracted many individuals at risk for skin cancer and detected mostly thin melanomas of the superficial spreading type.
Authors: Jacqueline Dinnes; Jonathan J Deeks; Naomi Chuchu; Rubeta N Matin; Kai Yuen Wong; Roger Benjamin Aldridge; Alana Durack; Abha Gulati; Sue Ann Chan; Louise Johnston; Susan E Bayliss; Jo Leonardi-Bee; Yemisi Takwoingi; Clare Davenport; Colette O'Sullivan; Hamid Tehrani; Hywel C Williams Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2018-12-04
Authors: Jacqueline Dinnes; Jonathan J Deeks; Naomi Chuchu; Lavinia Ferrante di Ruffano; Rubeta N Matin; David R Thomson; Kai Yuen Wong; Roger Benjamin Aldridge; Rachel Abbott; Monica Fawzy; Susan E Bayliss; Matthew J Grainge; Yemisi Takwoingi; Clare Davenport; Kathie Godfrey; Fiona M Walter; Hywel C Williams Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2018-12-04
Authors: Jacqueline Dinnes; Jonathan J Deeks; Matthew J Grainge; Naomi Chuchu; Lavinia Ferrante di Ruffano; Rubeta N Matin; David R Thomson; Kai Yuen Wong; Roger Benjamin Aldridge; Rachel Abbott; Monica Fawzy; Susan E Bayliss; Yemisi Takwoingi; Clare Davenport; Kathie Godfrey; Fiona M Walter; Hywel C Williams Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2018-12-04
Authors: Chung Yeng Looi; Bushra Moharram; Mohammadjavad Paydar; Yi Li Wong; Kok Hoong Leong; Khalit Mohamad; Aditya Arya; Won Fen Wong; Mohd Rais Mustafa Journal: BMC Complement Altern Med Date: 2013-07-10 Impact factor: 3.659