The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) provided an update to its 2016 recommendation on the benefits and harms of skin cancer screening for skin cancer in asymptomatic adolescents and adults. The updated recommendation statement was published in JAMA, and the authors’ conclusion was that “the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of visual skin examination by a clinician to screen for skin cancer in adolescents and adults,” therefore upholding the 2016 recommendation. They also outlined future areas of needed research in this area, including consistent data showing the effects of screening on morbidity, mortality, and early detection; a focus in future research on including a bevy of skin colors and tones; effectiveness of screening in different primary care settings; and more.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) issued a statement on the recommendation, noting that the USPSTF is a body focused on providing guidance for primary care physicians, and also extolled the benefits of self-screening and the risks tied to skin cancer. “It is important for the public to understand that the USPSTF is not recommending against skin cancer screenings or commenting on the value of general population screening by dermatologists, who are the leading experts in diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer,” the AAD concluded.