Skin cancer biopsy and detection rates with total body skin examination: A cross-sectional retrospective analysis

Abstract

To The Editor: Office-based skin cancer screening is limited in its capacity to screen entire populations. 1 Ferris L.K. Saul M.I. Lin Y. et al. A large skin cancer screening quality initiative: description and first-year outcomes. JAMA Oncol. 2017; 3: 1112-1115 Crossref PubMed Scopus (30) Google Scholar ,2 Welch H.G. Mazer M.L. Adamson A.S. The rapid rise in cutaneous melanoma diagnoses. N Engl J Med. 2021; 384: 72-79 Crossref Scopus (40) Google Scholar Most organizations worldwide recommend screening only at-risk individuals. 2 Welch H.G. Mazer M.L. Adamson A.S. The rapid rise in cutaneous melanoma diagnoses. N Engl J Med. 2021; 384: 72-79 Crossref Scopus (40) Google Scholar ,3 Ebell M.H. Thai T.N. Royalty K.J. Cancer screening recommendations: an international comparison of high income countries. Public Health Rev. 2018; 39: 1-9 Crossref PubMed Scopus (51) Google Scholar In the United States, less than a quarter of those deemed to be at a high risk of skin cancer per the United States Preventative Services Task Force criteria undergo a total body skin examination (TBSE) in their lifetime. 4 Lakhani N.A. Saraiya M. Thompson T.D. King S.C. Guy Jr., G.P. Total body skin examination for skin cancer screening among U.S. adults from 2000 to 2010. Prev Med. 2014; 61: 75-80 Crossref PubMed Scopus (37) Google Scholar A lack of consensus for skin cancer screening guidelines has led to patient-driven screening. 5 Johnson M.M. Leachman S.A. Aspinwall L.G. et al. Skin cancer screening: recommendations for data-driven screening guidelines and a review of the US Preventive Services Task Force controversy. Melanoma Manag. 2017; 4: 13-37 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar This study evaluated factors that influence the likelihood of a skin biopsy during a TBSE and skin cancer detection upon biopsy.