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Dermatopathologists are more likely to make more severe diagnoses for skin biopsy cases of melanocytic lesions compared to general pathologists, according to an exploratory study. This could contribute to the increasing rates of overdiagnosis and the rising incidence of early-stage melanoma with low risk of progression or patient morbidity. The study analyzed data from two national studies and found that dermatopathologists were 2.63 times more likely to render higher-grade diagnoses and 1.95 times more likely to diagnose invasive melanoma compared to general pathologists. The study suggests the need for strategies to minimize harm from overdiagnosis and improve diagnostic accuracy. [Extracted from the article]

To get an idea, investigators linked Medicare claims data with Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data for 54,635 women 70 years or older to compare the incidence of breast cancer and breast cancer-specific death among women who continued screening mammography with those who did not. Women who continue breast cancer screening after age 70 face a considerable risk for overdiagnosis. IN PRACTICE: The proportion of older women who continue to receive screening mammograms and may experience breast cancer overdiagnosis is "considerable" and "increases with advancing age and with decreasing life expectancy", the authors conclude. [Extracted from the article]

Women who continued breast cancer screenings when they reached age 70 had no lower chance of dying from the disease, and just getting a mammogram could instead set them on a path toward unnecessary risks, according to a new study from Yale University. For the study, researchers analyzed data for 54,635 women aged 70 and older and compared the rate of breast cancer diagnosis and death among women who did and did not have mammograms during a 15-year follow-up period. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the potential harm of annual surveillance mammography for older women who have had breast cancer. Topics include the overdiagnosis and overtreatment of potentially harmless cancers; the need for shared decision-making between patients and doctors regarding mammography; and ongoing research to evaluate the benefits and harms of surveillance mammography in this patient population.

The article focuses on a proposed strategy to limit the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)screening for prostate cancer to men under 70, at high risk or symptomatic. It further discusses about aiming to reduce overdiagnosis & overtreatment; experts recommend a comprehensive nationwide program based on individual patient risk, including imaging, targeted biopsy, active monitoring or treatment for aggressive disease, or alternatively; and restricting PSA testing to men with urologic symptoms.

The article reports on the risks involved in using health tracking applications, such as Flo and Clue period-tracking apps, in terms of accuracy according to health experts. Topics discussed include introduction of health tools which evaluate a woman's risk for polycystic ovary syndrome, risks involved including unintended consequences like over-diagnosis, and views of Australian physician Jennifer Doust on the impact of inaccurate health assessment.

The author reflects on the concerns of overdiagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children in the U.S. and discusses the challenges for diagnosing the said disease.

The article focuses on the increased incidence of thyroid cancer due to screening in South Korea. Topics covered include the introduction of a screening program for a variety of cancers in the country, the low death rate for thyroid cancer patients and the emergence of the overdiagnosis phenomenon or finding cancers that did not need to be found since they grow very slowly.

The author reflects on the increasing number of thyroid cancer cases in South Korea which he attributes to overdiagnosis following the government's health screening program focusing on reducing cancer and other common diseases and on the risk of overtreatment.

The article discusses various health problems worldwide. Topics covered include studies which found the practice by hospitals and physicians of over-diagnosis and overtreatment for diseases that might never seriously impact a person's health, the increase in suicides among American veterans, and the failure to detecting ovarian cancer in its early stage.

The article reports on the research led by doctor (Dr.) H. Gilbert Welch which suggests the increase of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of thyroid cancer.

The article offers information on the study conducted to 5,639 patients in 2009 and 2010 who had been given a diagnosis of depression shows that overdiagnosis of depression is one of the factors which affect the rise antidepressant prescription.

The article offers the author's insights regarding his and oncologist Archie Bleyer study on the effect of having regular mammograms in the health of women with breast cancer in the U.S. He says that the study shows that fewer women have been diagnosed of late-stage breast cancer during mammography screening which reflects an overdiagnosis. He adds that the number of women with life-threatening metastatic breast cancer did not change.

The article discusses the result of a study which stated that regular prostate cancer screening helps in reducing the risk of death from prostate cancer. It informs that the screening method involves simple blood tests to measure the levels of prostate-specific antigens (PSA). It further informs that the drawback of the screening method is 'overdiagnosis' due to the detection of benign tumors.