Patient-led melanoma surveillance is safe, feasible

Source: Healio, December 2021

Patient-led surveillance following melanoma surgery was safe and feasible, according to a pilot study.

“After surgical excision of localized melanoma, patients are recommended to undergo long-term follow-up at routinely scheduled clinic visits (clinician-led surveillance). However, the frequency and duration of clinician surveillance varies widely, leading to substantial differences in health care utilization and costs and unclear clinical benefits for higher utilization patterns of care,” Deonna M. Ackermann, MPH, of the University of Sydney School of Public Health in Sydney, Australia, and colleagues wrote.

“Patient-led surveillance is an alternative model of follow-up after treatment of localized melanoma, based on evidence that patients and their partners detect many subsequent new primary or recurrent melanomas ahead of a routinely scheduled clinic visit.”