Fundamentals of skin cancer/melanoma screening campaigns

There is increased world-wide concern about the rising incidence of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. Screening theoretically reduces death and morbidity from skin cancer/melanoma. Visual examination of the skin is a rapid, safe and inexpensive screening tool. In this review the fundamentals of early disease detection before implementation of a public-health screening programme are critically analysed with reference to the skin cancer/melanoma, epidemic. It is concluded that skin cancer/melanoma fulfils, for the most part, the criteria enunciated by Wilson and Jungner in 1968. However, information about the effect of screening on reducing incidence and mortality is still lacking. Future research should focus on methods of improving compliance and on the costs and benefits of such screening programmes.