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Cancer Resources > Cancer News > Cancer News from Reuters > Reuters Cancer News > 2006 > August
Questionnaire at routine office visit helps estimate melanoma risk
Last Updated: 2006-08-24 13:03:28 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A detailed questionnaire and a brief examination appear useful in identifying people at high risk of melanoma who are candidates for further scrutiny, researchers report in the August 1st issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
The use of these procedures during a routine office visit help physicians estimate a patient's absolute risk of developing melanoma, lead investigator Dr. Thomas A. Fears told Reuters Health. High-risk individuals could undergo further interventions, such as a complete skin examination, counseling to avoid sun exposure, regular self and professional examination or participation in prevention trials.
Dr. Fears of the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland and colleagues note that a prediction model that primary care providers could use to establish which patients might benefit from such intervention could be useful. To develop such a model, the researchers studied data from a case-control study involving 718 non-Hispanic white patients with a median age of 49 years and confirmed invasive cutaneous melanoma.
Examination of clinical features and responses to detailed questions by interviewers were also included, as were US data on melanoma incidence and mortality.
To estimate the probability of developing melanoma over the next 5 years, the researchers established that all patients should be asked if they have a light, medium or dark complexion.
In addition, men only should be asked whether they get a blistering suntan and women only should be asked how easily they tan after prolonged exposure to sunlight. Both groups of patients should then undergo examination of the back and shoulders.
Using a maximum of seven variables, relative risk models yielded an attributable risk of 86% for men and 89% for women. These values did not vary by age and ultraviolet B flux or hours outdoors. However, the absolute individual risk varied widely depending on age, location and other factors.
The researchers stress that these methods are not meant to identify current melanoma cases, but conclude that they can assist in the identification of those at high risk who should undergo a complete skin examination.
"Such interventions in high-risk individuals," concluded Dr. Fears, "may lead to detection of early, curable disease or to a decrease in their risk of developing melanoma."
J Clin Oncol 2006;24:3590-3596.
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