Jean-Phillip Okhovat1, Derek Beaulieu2, Hensin Tsao3, Allan C Halpern4, Dominique S Michaud5, Shimon Shaykevich6, Alan C Geller7. 1. Department of Dermatology, Stanford Cancer Center, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Stanford, California; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. 2. Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Boston, Massachusetts. 3. Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. 4. Dermatology Service of the Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York. 5. Department of Public Health & Community Medicine, Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Boston, Massachusetts. 6. Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. 7. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: ageller@hsph.harvard.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The incidence of melanoma is rising faster than that of any other preventable cancer in the United States. The American Academy of Dermatology has sponsored free skin cancer education and screenings conducted by volunteer dermatologists in the United States since 1985. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the American Academy of Dermatology's national skin cancer screening program from 1986 to 2014 by analyzing the risk factor profile, access to dermatologic services, and examination results. METHODS: We conducted several detailed statistical analyses of the screening population. RESULTS: From 1986 to 2014, records were available for 2,046,531 screenings, 1,963,141 (96%) of which were subjected to detailed analysis. Men comprised 38% of all participants. The number of annual screenings reached approximately 100,000 in 1990 and remained relatively stable thereafter. From 1991 to 2014 (data for 1995, 1996 and 2000 were unavailable), clinical diagnoses were rendered for 20,628 melanomas, 156,087 dysplastic nevi, 32,893 squamous cell carcinomas, and 129,848 basal cell carcinomas. Only 21% of screenees had a regular dermatologist. Those with a clinical diagnosis of skin cancer were more likely than the general screening population to be uninsured. LIMITATIONS: Inability to verify clinical diagnoses histopathologically. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the SPOTme program has detected thousands of skin cancers that may have gone undetected or experienced a delay in detection.
BACKGROUND: The incidence of melanoma is rising faster than that of any other preventable cancer in the United States. The American Academy of Dermatology has sponsored free skin cancer education and screenings conducted by volunteer dermatologists in the United States since 1985. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the American Academy of Dermatology's national skin cancer screening program from 1986 to 2014 by analyzing the risk factor profile, access to dermatologic services, and examination results. METHODS: We conducted several detailed statistical analyses of the screening population. RESULTS: From 1986 to 2014, records were available for 2,046,531 screenings, 1,963,141 (96%) of which were subjected to detailed analysis. Men comprised 38% of all participants. The number of annual screenings reached approximately 100,000 in 1990 and remained relatively stable thereafter. From 1991 to 2014 (data for 1995, 1996 and 2000 were unavailable), clinical diagnoses were rendered for 20,628 melanomas, 156,087 dysplastic nevi, 32,893 squamous cell carcinomas, and 129,848 basal cell carcinomas. Only 21% of screenees had a regular dermatologist. Those with a clinical diagnosis of skin cancer were more likely than the general screening population to be uninsured. LIMITATIONS: Inability to verify clinical diagnoses histopathologically. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the SPOTme program has detected thousands of skin cancers that may have gone undetected or experienced a delay in detection.
Authors: Derek Beaulieu; Hensin Tsao; Dominique S Michaud; Jean-Phillip Okhovat; Allan C Halpern; Alan C Geller Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2019-06-19 Impact factor: 11.527
Authors: Derek Beaulieu; Hensin Tsao; Dominique S Michaud; Jean-Phillip Okhovat; Allan C Halpern; Missy Lundberg; Alan C Geller Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2020-06-10 Impact factor: 15.487
Authors: Catherine H Davis; Jason Ho; Stephanie H Greco; Vadim P Koshenkov; Roberto J Vidri; Jeffrey M Farma; Adam C Berger Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2021-11-19 Impact factor: 5.344