Presentation and detection of invasive melanoma in a high-risk population.
BACKGROUND
Early detection of melanoma has been encouraged in Queensland for many years, yet little is known about the patterns of detection and the way in which they relate to tumor thickness.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to describe current patterns of melanoma detection in Queensland.


METHODS
This was a population-based study, comprising 3772 Queensland residents diagnosed with a histologically confirmed melanoma between 2000 and 2003.


RESULTS
Almost half (44.0%) of the melanomas were detected by the patients themselves, with physicians detecting one fourth (25.3%) and partners one fifth (18.6%). Melanomas detected by doctors were more likely to be thin (<0.75 mm) than those detected by the patient or other layperson. Melanomas detected during a deliberate skin examination were thinner than those detected incidentally.


CONCLUSIONS
Although a participation rate of 78% was achieved, as in any survey, nonresponse bias cannot be completely excluded, and the ability of the results to be generalized to other geographical areas is unknown.


CONCLUSIONS
There are clear differences in the depth distribution of melanoma in terms of method of detection and who detects the lesions that are consistent with, but do not automatically lead to, the conclusion that promoting active methods of detection may be beneficial.
McPherson
Michelle
M
Queensland Cancer Fund, Brisbane, Australia.
Elwood
Mark
M
English
Dallas R
DR
Baade
Peter D
PD
Youl
Philippa H
PH
Aitken
Joanne F
JF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011793:Queensland; D012307:Risk Factors; D016353:Self-Examination; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*