The expertise of physicians to detect skin cancer

The expertise of physicians to detect skin cancer
Most melanomas are discovered by a routine examination of all skin
The lesions were at a very early stage of the disease

Melanoma is the cause of his European tour by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, completed in early August in Spain, had a notable absence, the musician Danny Federici, who died in 2008 with 58 years due to this type of skin cancer. Early detection of this pathology is the cornerstone for effective treatment.

A recent study published in Archives of Dermatology ', calls for an early discovery of this tumor. The authors believed that "if a large number of melanomas are discovered only after a thorough examination of the body, perhaps the recognition of the entire skin should be considered as a routine practice for selected patients, although the patient did not come to medical attention for this reason.

Of the 126 cases of melanoma diagnosed during the three years of the project, 56% was found by a dermatologist, although not the reason that the person concerned had come to the meeting, and the remaining 44% was detected at the request the patient. The researchers, Jonathan and Deborah Kantor, conclude that "the majority of melanomas detected were found in the consultation initiated by the specialist to examine the entire skin of the body, which had gone unnoticed without full recognition.

Moreover, 60% of melanomas in situ (localized only in the epidermis) were found only by a specialist. This tumor is characterized by several stages (from 0 to 4) depending on the degree of involvement, with stage 0, the 'in situ', the better prognosis.

Previous studies suggest that doctors and dermatologists in particular, can better detect lesions and in a less advanced stage. The authors suggest that "as the thickness of the tumor is closely related to survival, this exam plays an important role, particularly in people at high risk."

Lesions less thick

Another objective of the research was to determine whether the discovery by the specialist was associated with thinner tumors finding. The results found that in the group of invasive melanomas, the average depth was discovered by the physician of 0.33 mm and 0.55 mm patient.

Jonathan Kantor acknowledges the limitations of the study, unable to generalize the findings in other populations, in addition to the limited sample size. With the addition that the detection rate of lesions made by the specialist can not be compared with respect to other professionals.

In the U.S. this type of cancer was responsible for the deaths of about 8,000 people last year (including musician of the E Street Band) with what Kantor believes that "any intervention seeking to mitigate this potential should be considered. In Spain the figures are around 800 deaths a year from this disease.

Among the risk factors are exposure to ultraviolet radiation and family history. If a mole changes size, shape or color, we must see a doctor. Survival rates are higher the first discovered and treated the disease.

The authors of the investigation "hoping that these findings will help stimulate larger studies in high risk populations. Research in this area can lead to major changes in clinical practice that could potentially reduce mortality from melanoma.