Why the Evidence for Skin Cancer Screening Is Insufficient: Lessons From Prostate Cancer Screening

Ann Intern Med. 2009;150(3):194-198

Ann Intern Med. 2009;150(3):188-193

Question: Can screening with whole-body skin examination decrease the rate of death from melanoma?

Background: Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. Most skin cancers are nonmelanoma cancers, either of the basal cell or squamous cell type. The incidence of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer has been increasing for the past 3 decades.