Skin Cancer Overdiagnosis in White Americans Is Increasing, Study Says

Source: AJMC, February 2024

An ecological study revealed increasing rates of skin cancer overdiagnosis in white Americans.

According to a recent study published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, the overdiagnosis of skin cancer among White American patients has been significantly increasing over time.

From 1975 to 2016, the prevalence of cutaneous melanoma in the US has grown drastically from 8.3 to 49.1 cases per 100,000 people. The authors of the present study note that, despite the growing frequency of cutaneous melanoma diagnoses, mortality rates have not changed over this time period. With the rise of these cases, some concern has emerged regarding the overdiagnosis of melanoma—especially considering the harm associated with overtreatment.
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