title: Italian Euromelanoma Day Screening Campaign (2005-2007) and the planning of melanoma screening strategies.
abstract: Although no study has definitively shown that unfocused screening of skin cancer is effective, many campaigns have been organized with the aim of increasing awareness on melanoma risk factors. The objective of this study was to analyse the results of the Skin Cancer Screening Day in Italy during the period 2005-2007, to determine the priorities for melanoma control plans in a Mediterranean country. A total of 5002 patients were screened by dermatologists in 31 cities. Individuals who considered themselves to have many naevi and those with a family history of melanoma showed a higher number of common and atypical naevi. Ten melanomas, 20 basal cell carcinomas and two squamous cell carcinomas were histopathologically confirmed. Our observations provide the following suggestions for melanoma prevention strategies: (a) an unfocused campaign is suitable to inform the public about the importance of self-examination of the skin, but is not useful to identify a larger number of melanomas; and (b) melanoma screening campaigns should focus on a selected population, which meets rigorous risk criteria to maintain higher cost-effectiveness. The financial support to effective melanoma screening programmes could be increased, especially in southern populations where lower levels of self-surveillance and socioeconomic conditions represent risk factors for late identification of melanoma.
authors: Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Seidenari
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Benati
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Ponti
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Borsari
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Ferrari
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Albertini
authors: Gianfranco
authors: G
authors: Altomare
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Arcangeli
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Aste
authors: Maria Grazia
authors: MG
authors: Bernengo
authors: Maria Rita
authors: MR
authors: Bongiorno
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Borroni
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Calvieri
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Chimenti
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Cusano
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Fracchiolla
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Gaddoni
authors: Giampiero
authors: G
authors: Girolomoni
authors: Biagio
authors: B
authors: Guarneri
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Lanzoni
authors: Mara
authors: M
authors: Lombardi
authors: Torello
authors: T
authors: Lotti
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Mariotti
authors: Franco
authors: F
authors: Marsili
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Micali
authors: Aurora
authors: A
authors: Parodi
authors: Ketty
authors: K
authors: Peris
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Peserico
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Quaglino
authors: Marcello
authors: M
authors: Santini
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Schiavon
authors: Camillo
authors: C
authors: Tonino
authors: Giusto
authors: G
authors: Trevisan
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Tribuzi
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Valentini
authors: Gino A
authors: GA
authors: Vena
authors: Annarosa
authors: A
authors: Virgili
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011379:Prognosis; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D016353:Self-Examination; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult