Causes and magnitude of melanoma overdiagnosis in Australia
September 11, 2024
Abstract
Background
Melanoma overdiagnosis occurs when melanomas, not destined to cause morbidity or death in a patient's lifetime, are identified and treated.
Objective
This study considers the causes and magnitude of melanoma overdiagnosis in Australia. We also speculate about a possible benefit of overdiagnosis in Australia; namely, a reduction in excess deaths in the geographical areas where melanoma is diagnosed most frequently.
Discussion
Overdiagnosis can arguably be mitigated by factors that reduce the number of lesions treated for each melanoma identified. Data from the Australian Cancer Atlas show that there is a reduction in excess deaths from melanoma in geographical areas where diagnostic rates are higher (Pearson correlation coefficient r=-0.5978, 95% CI: -0.6243 to -0.5699, P<0.0001); this being the strongest inverse correlation observed among the 20 cancer types in the Atlas. Is early diagnosis of actual life-threatening melanomas in these geographical regions impacting survival? Further research is planned.
Source:
Clark S, Rosendahl N, Rosendahl C. Melanoma overdiagnosis: What do we know and what do we do? Aust J Gen Pract. 2024 Sep;53(9):612-616. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-02-24-7176. PMID: 39226593.