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Background and Goals: The rising incidence of skin cancer in Germany has increased the need for secondary prevention measures. For this purpose, a statutory skin cancer screening for insured persons aged 35 and older was introduced on 1 June 2008. The aim of this work package in the Innovation Fund project "Perspectives of a multimodal evaluation of early skin cancer detection" (Pertimo) was to test an evaluation of skin cancer screening using secondary data., Patients and Methods: The data basis was statutory insured persons of the DAK Health from the age of 35 who were insured as of 31 December 2010 and were followed up until the end of 2015. The rates of participation, skin tumors detected in skin cancer screening (tumor detections), and interval tumors that occurred within two years after a finding-free skin cancer screening were calculated., Results: The biennial skin cancer screening take-up rate in 2014 and 2015 was 33.6% for women and 32.6% for men. Of those screened, 4.2% had a skin cancer finding (tumor detection) in the course of skin cancer screening. Of all incident skin cancer diagnoses (2012-2015), 50.1% were detected in skin cancer screening. In 1.5% of the insured persons with skin cancer screening without findings, an incidental skin tumor was diagnosed in the following two years (interval tumor)., Conclusions: The data from the statutory health insurance mapped the skin cancer screening occurrence in Germany and highlighted the importance of dermatologists in the screening process. The analysis provided important new insights., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft.)

Background: There are regional differences in skin cancer screening uptake in Germany. So far, it is unclear whether a high uptake of screening services leads to a reduction in mortality. This article presents study results on the investigation of spatiotemporal associations between skin cancer screening and mortality. The methods used are discussed regarding their suitability., Material and Methods: The basis is ambulatory claims data on the utilization of early skin cancer detection as well as data on skin cancer mortality from the cause-of-death statistics of the years 2011-2015 at county level in Germany. In addition to a descriptive evaluation, spatiotemporal cluster analyses and regression models were used to investigate the relationship between the uptake of early detection and mortality. In addition to age, adjustments were also made for other selected socio-economic and socio-graphical variables., Results: The descriptive results show striking spatial patterns of skin cancer screening and mortality. Cluster analyses identified regions with significantly higher and lower cases of early detection and skin cancer mortality. The spatiotemporal regression analyses show no clear association. Only early detection by a dermatologist, adjusted for age, shows an association with mortality., Conclusions: No clear association between early skin cancer detection and mortality can be derived from the results. However, the study design used with a spatiotemporal cluster and regression analysis has shown that these methods allow in-depth statements about the relationship between early skin cancer detection and mortality., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft.)

Background: Colorectal cancer screening programmes and uptake vary substantially across Europe. We aimed to compare changes over time in colorectal cancer incidence, mortality, and stage distribution in relation to colorectal cancer screening implementation in European countries., Methods: Data from nearly 3·1 million patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed from 2000 onwards (up to 2016 for most countries) were obtained from 21 European countries, and were used to analyse changes over time in age-standardised colorectal cancer incidence and stage distribution. The WHO mortality database was used to analyse changes over time in age-standardised colorectal cancer mortality over the same period for the 16 countries with nationwide data. Incidence rates were calculated for all sites of the colon and rectum combined, as well as the subsites proximal colon, distal colon, and rectum. Average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) in incidence and mortality were estimated and relevant patterns were descriptively analysed., Findings: In countries with long-standing programmes of screening colonoscopy and faecal tests (ie, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany), colorectal cancer incidence decreased substantially over time, with AAPCs ranging from -2·5% (95% CI -2·8 to -2·2) to -1·6% (-2·0 to -1·2) in men and from -2·4% (-2·7 to -2·1) to -1·3% (-1·7 to -0·9) in women. In countries where screening programmes were implemented during the study period, age-standardised colorectal cancer incidence either remained stable or increased up to the year screening was implemented. AAPCs for these countries ranged from -0·2% (95% CI -1·4 to 1·0) to 1·5% (1·1 to 1·8) in men and from -0·5% (-1·7 to 0·6) to 1·2% (0·8 to 1·5) in women. Where high screening coverage and uptake were rapidly achieved (ie, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Slovenia), age-standardised incidence rates initially increased but then subsequently decreased. Conversely, colorectal cancer incidence increased in most countries where no large-scale screening programmes were available (eg, Bulgaria, Estonia, Norway, and Ukraine), with AAPCs ranging from 0·3% (95% CI 0·1 to 0·5) to 1·9% (1·2 to 2·6) in men and from 0·6% (0·4 to 0·8) to 1·1% (0·8 to 1·4) in women. The largest decreases in colorectal cancer mortality were seen in countries with long-standing screening programmes., Interpretation: We observed divergent trends in colorectal cancer incidence, mortality, and stage distribution across European countries, which appear to be largely explained by different levels of colorectal cancer screening implementation., Funding: German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests HDS and NVD are employed by the Belgian Cancer Registry, which is financed by regional and federal authorities for collecting data regarding new cancer diagnoses and cancer screening in Belgium, and for disseminating associated epidemiological parameters. FPf reports having received a research grant from Intuitive Surgery, and payment or honoraria from Amgen (for a lecture) and Intuitive Surgery (for a video presentation), outside the submitted work. All other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) by colonoscopy was implemented in Germany in 2002. Although the procedure has proven to be effective in reducing disease-specific mortality in numerous clinical studies, its effect at the population level is unclear. We performed an ecological study at the level of 358 German districts, testing the hypothesis that a higher participation rate in screening colonoscopy is associated with a stronger decline in CRC mortality from 2001 to 2012., Methods: Information on the use of colonoscopy in each district was extracted from settlement data, used for the remuneration of physicians of the ambulant sector from 2008 to 2011. Yearly mortality rates for each district from 2001 to 2012 were derived from the official mortality statistics. A spatial model was fitted, considering other factors which might influence early detection of CRC (fecal occult blood test (FOBT), diagnostic colonoscopy, material and social area deprivation, and rural-urban disparities)., Results: The population-weighted mean annual participation rate during 2008-2011 in screening colonoscopy was 2.0% (range 0.6 to 3.9%). The weighted mean annual percentage change (APC) of CRC mortality was - 2.9% (range - 7.8 to 1.2%). According to the fully adjusted model, a 1% higher annual participation rate in colonoscopy screening was associated with an additional annual change in CRC mortality rate of - 0.34% (p = 0.015). Given an annual 2.0% participation rate, colonoscopy screening attributed 23% to the observed decline., Conclusions: Our real-world data from Germany provide first evidence that colonoscopy screening for CRC is effective in reducing disease-specific mortality at the population level.

In 2008, a nationwide population-based skin cancer screening program was introduced in Germany. Its potential to reduce the skin cancer-related burden of disease is the subject of a controversial debate. This article gives an overview on the epidemiology of cutaneous melanoma of the skin and nonmelanoma skin cancer, on the history and practice of the current program, and appraises the evidence of screening for skin cancer based on a selective search for literature and data.The incidence of skin cancer has increased markedly throughout the last decades. The available evidence indicates efficacy of screening for skin cancer, but on a low level. Randomized controlled trials are lacking and the available evidence is based largely on the pilot study SCREEN which was conducted in 2003/2004 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Following this pilot study, a marked decline of melanoma mortality was observed. After implementation of nationwide skin cancer screening, a mortality reduction has not appeared so far.A comparison of nationwide skin cancer screening and the SCREEN project suggests a lower intensity of the current screening program. Its process and outcome quality requires further investigations. Improved documentation allowing for a linkage between screening procedures conducted by nondermatologists and dermatologists is desirable. Personal invitations could help to reach individuals who currently make little or no use of skin cancer screening but might benefit from it.

Early detection is considered to improve the prognosis of cutaneous melanoma. The value of population-based screening for melanoma, however, is still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive power of established risk factors in the setting of a population-based screening and to provide empirical evidence for potential risk stratifications. We reanalyzed data (including age, sex, risk factors, and screening results) of 354 635 participants in the Skin Cancer Research to provide Evidence for Effectiveness of Screening in Northern Germany (SCREEN)project conducted in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein (2003-2004). In multivariable analysis, atypical nevi [odds ratio (OR): 17.4; 95% confidence interval (CI): 14.4-20.1], personal history of melanoma (OR: 5.3; 95% CI: 3.6-7.6), and multiple (≥40) common nevi (OR: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1-1.6) were associated with an increased risk of melanoma detection. Family history and congenital nevi were not significantly associated with melanoma detection in the SCREEN. The effects of several risk-adapted screening strategies were evaluated. Hypothesizing a screening of individuals aged more than or equal to 35 years, irrespective of risk factors (age approach), the number needed to screen is 559 (95% CI: 514-612), whereas a screening of adults (aged ≥20) with at least one risk factor (risk approach) leads to a number needed to screen of 178 (95% CI: 163-196). Converted into one screen-detected melanoma, the number of missed melanomas is 0.15 (95% CI: 0.12-0.18) with the age approach and 0.22 (95% CI: 0.19-0.26) with the risk approach. The results indicate that focusing on individuals at high risk for melanoma may improve the cost-effectiveness and the benefit-to-harm balance of melanoma screening programs.

Objective The main purpose of skin cancer screening is melanoma mortality reduction. Before the implementation of nationwide German skin cancer screening, the pilot project SCREEN was conducted in Schleswig-Holstein in 2003-2004. We aimed to determine whether the pilot project had achieved a mortality reduction. Methods Using an incidence-based approach (patients with both melanoma diagnosis and death in 2003-2008), we compared the observed melanoma mortality of the SCREEN cohort to the melanoma mortality expected without screening in the general population of Saarland. Results The age- and sex-standardized melanoma mortality ratio (SMR) for 5.5 years of follow-up was 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.40-0.83). Conclusion Our results indicate reduced mortality in the SCREEN cohort. Several potential biases cannot be excluded, but most of them tend to inflate the SMR.

Background: Benefits of skin cancer screening remain controversial., Objective: We sought to update evidence on the impact of skin cancer screening and secondary prevention campaigns on skin cancer incidence, mortality, stage-specific incidence, and interval cancers after negative screening., Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies published in English or German between January 1, 2005, and February 4, 2015. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and critical appraisal. Results were described in a narrative synthesis., Results: Of 2066 records identified in databases and 10 records found by manual search, we included 15 articles. Overall, evidence suggests that with implementation of skin cancer screening, incidence of in situ and invasive skin cancer increased; increasing rates of thin and decreasing rates of thick melanoma were observed. After cessation of screening, invasive melanoma incidence decreased. A significant melanoma mortality reduction was shown in a German study; 2 other studies observed fewer deaths than expected. No study on interval cancers was identified., Limitations: Publication bias cannot be ruled out. Most studies are limited because of their ecological design., Conclusion: Large ecological studies, a cohort study, a case-control study, and a survey indicate benefits of skin cancer screening, but the evidence level is very low., (Copyright © 2016 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In October 2002, screening colonoscopy from age 55 onward was introduced as part of the German national statutory cancer screening program. Screening colonoscopy is intended to lower both the mortality and the incidence of bowel cancer by enabling the detection and removal of precursor lesions., Methods: The authors studied trends in bowel cancer incidence and mortality in Germany from 2003 to 2012 on the basis of data from the epidemiological cancer registries and from cause-of-death statistics., Results: Over the period of investigation, the age-standardized incidence of bowel cancer (with the European population as a standard) fell from 66.1 to 57.0 cases per 100 000 persons per year (-13.8%) in men and from 42.6 to 36.5 per 100 000 persons per year (-14.3%) in women. In parallel with these changes, the age-standardized mortality from bowel cancer fell by 20.8% in men and by 26.5% in women. In the age groups 55-64, 65-74, and 75-84 years, the cumulative risk of receiving a diagnosis of bowel cancer fell by 17-26%; in persons under age 55, this risk fell by only 3% in men, but increased by 14% in women. Long-term data from the cancer registry in the German federal state of Saarland revealed that the incidence of bowel cancer, but not its mortality, had risen over the decades preceding the study; it was only during the period of investigation that the trend reversed itself., Conclusion: Within 10 years of the introduction of screening colonoscopy in Germany, the incidence of bowel cancer in persons over age 55 fell by 17-26%, after having risen steadily over the preceding decades.

Background: Nationwide skin cancer screening was introduced in Germany in 2008. The positive results of a pilot project carried out in 2003-4 in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein had implied that screening would lower the mortality from melanoma., Methods: Data on the incidence of invasive malignant melanoma of the skin (MM; ICD-10: C43) were extracted from the databases of the Association of Population-based Cancer Registries in Germany (GEKID) and from the Schleswig-Holstein cancer registry. Mortality rates were extracted from the official cause-of-death statistics., Results: With the beginning of nationwide screening in 2008, the age-standardized incidence rate in Germany increased by approximately 28% to 18.2 cases per 100 000 persons in 2010. In Schleswig-Holstein, the incidence fell after the pilot project ended and has been comparable to the nationwide incidence since 2008. For Germany overall, there has been no downward trend in MM mortality since the introduction of nationwide screening; in 2013, the mortality rate was 2.3 deaths per 100 000 persons per year. In the area of the pilot study, mortality declined to a level of 1.0/100 000/year until 2008 and then began to rise again. At present, the mortality due to MM in Schleswig- Holstein is once again the same as that in Germany overall (2.4/100 000/year)., Conclusion: The introduction of nationwide skin cancer screening in 2008 has not yet led to any measurable decline in mortality due to melanoma. The current method of screening seems to be less thorough than that used in the pilot project; this may explain the absence of a decline in MM-related mortality in Germany overall up to the year 2013, as well as the rising mortality in Schleswig-Holstein since the end of the pilot program. The generation of a robust set of data on how skin cancer screening can be optimized now seems urgently necessary.

Background: A nationwide skin cancer screening (SCS) was implemented in Germany in 2008. It aims at improving early detection of melanoma in order to reduce melanoma mortality. While the idea of early detection is compelling, demonstrating the effectiveness of melanoma screening is crucial. Since it is not feasible to conduct epidemiological studies to investigate the impact of factors such as screening interval or targeted age groups, we developed a microsimulation model that is able to predict melanoma mortality in Germany under several SCS conditions., Methods: Using German cancer registry data, population data, and other published data on melanoma progression and screening participation, we developed a stochastic microsimulation model. With this model, 10,000 populations of 100,000 persons and their melanoma-related life histories were simulated separately for women and for men and calibrated to observed melanoma incidence. In a second step, life histories of melanoma were changed by an SCS., Results: Compared with a nonscreening scenario (age-standardized mortality rate: 1.6 and 2.9 per 100,000 for women and men), a biennial SCS of the 35- to 85-year-old population with a participation probability of 20% for each screening-eligible individual and a test sensitivity of 80% reduced mortality by up to 0.7 and 1.4 deaths per 100,000 person-years for women and men, respectively, corresponding to a relative reduction of melanoma mortality by 45% in women and men., Conclusions: We developed a microsimulation model of melanoma mortality that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of population-based skin cancer screening. The simulation provided plausible melanoma mortality predictions and is a tool for comparing different SCS scenarios. However, it does not provide estimates on total costs of SCS., (© The Author(s) 2014.)

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common malignancy, whose public health significance is often unrecognized. This analysis has two objectives: first, to provide up-to-date incidence estimates by sex, age group, histological type, and body site; and second, to study the impact of skin cancer screening. The impact of screening on NMSC incidence in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, is analyzed by comparing four time periods of different screening settings (no screening (1998-2000), pilot project (Skin Cancer Research to Provide Evidence for Effectiveness of Screening in Northern Germany, SCREEN, 2003-2004), after SCREEN (2004-2008), and nation-wide skin cancer screening (2008-2010)) to a reference region (Saarland, Germany). Age-standardized (Europe) NMSC incidence was 119/100,000 for women and 145/100,000 for men in the most recent screening period in Schleswig-Holstein (2008-2010). During implementation of SCREEN (2003-2004), incidence increased from 81.5/100,000 to 111.5/100,000 (1998-2000) by 47% for women and 34% for men. All age groups in women were affected by the increase, but increases for men were mostly limited to the older age groups. Incidence in Saarland first increased slowly, but increased steeply with the introduction of the nation-wide skin cancer screening in 2008 (+47% for women and +40% for men, reference 2004-2008). Observed changes are most likely attributed to screening activities.

Background: From July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004, a population-based skin cancer screening project was conducted in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. In total, 360,288 individuals aged ≥20 years were screened by means of a whole-body examination. In this report, the authors compare trends in melanoma mortality in Schleswig-Holstein with those in all adjacent regions, none of which had population-based skin cancer screening., Methods: Trends in melanoma mortality rates for Schleswig-Holstein and the adjacent regions (Denmark and the German federal states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hamburg, and Lower Saxony) and in Germany excluding Schleswig-Holstein were compared. Log-linear regression was used to assess mortality trends., Results: In Schleswig-Holstein during the pre skin cancer screening period (1998-1999), the age-standardized melanoma mortality rate (World standard population) was 1.9 per 100,000 for men and 1.4 per 100,000 for women. Melanoma mortality declined by 47% to 1.0 per 100,000 men and by 49% to 0.7 per 100,000 women by 2008/2009. The annual percentage change in the most recent 10-year period (2000-2009) was -7.5% (95% confidence interval, -14.0, -0.5) for men and -7.1% (95% confidence interval, -10.5, -2.9) for women. In each of the 4 adjacent regions and in the rest of Germany, mortality rates were stable, and the decline in Schleswig-Holstein was significantly different from the changes observed in all of the other areas studied., Conclusions: The current data represent strong evidence, but not absolute proof, that the skin cancer screening program produced a reduction in melanoma mortality in Schleswig-Holstein., (Copyright © 2012 American Cancer Society.)

Objectives: To address the benefits of double and arbitration reading regarding tumour detection rates, percentage of in situ tumours, and number (of patients) needed to send for expert reading (number needed to treat; NNT) for one additional tumour finding., Methods: QuaMaDi is a quality assured breast cancer diagnosis programme; with two-view mammography (craniocaudal, mediolateral oblique) and, in case of breast density ACR 3 or 4, routine ultrasound imaging; and with independent double reading of all images. A consecutive sample of symptomatic women, i.e. women at risk for breast cancer, women aged 70 and above, and/or women with preceding BI-RADS III findings, was analysed., Results: 28,558 mammograms were performed (mean age of women: 57.3 [standard deviation: 12.3] years). Discordant findings were present in 3,837 double readings and were sent for arbitration reading. After histopathological assessment, 52 carcinomas were found (thereof 32% in situ). These carcinomas accounted for 1.8 tumours per 1,000 examinations in the total cohort and increased the tumour detection rate up to 16.4/1,000. The NNT in discordant cases was 74., Conclusion: Double and arbitration reading appears to be a useful tool to ensure the quality of early detection of breast lesions in symptomatic women during indication-based, standardised mammography., Key Points: • Quality assured breast cancer diagnosis is feasible outside organised screening structures. • Double and arbitration reading is beneficial for populations ineligible for screening. • Double and arbitration reading increases the tumour detection rate. • Double and arbitration reading increases the percentage of in situ cancers.

Background: The incidence of skin cancer is increasing worldwide. For decades, opportunistic melanoma screening has been carried out to respond to this burden. However, despite potential positive effects such as reduced morbidity and mortality, there is still a lack of evidence for feasibility and effectiveness of organized skin cancer screening., Objective: The main aim of the project was to evaluate the feasibility of systematic skin cancer screening., Methods: In 2003, the Association of Dermatological Prevention was contracted to implement the population-based SCREEN project (Skin Cancer Research to Provide Evidence for Effectiveness of Screening in Northern Germany) in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. A two-step program addressing malignant melanoma and nonmelanocytic skin cancer was implemented. Citizens (aged ≥ 20 years) with statutory health insurance were eligible for a standardized whole-body examination during the 12-month study period. Cancer registry and mortality data were used to assess first effects., Results: Of 1.88 million eligible citizens, 360,288 participated in SCREEN. The overall population-based participation rate was 19%. A total of 3103 malignant skin tumors were found. On the population level, invasive melanoma incidence increased by 34% during SCREEN. Five years after SCREEN a substantial decrease in melanoma mortality was seen (men: observed 0.79/100,000 and expected 2.00/100,000; women: observed 0.66/100,000 and expected 1.30/100,000)., Limitations: Because of political reasons (resistance as well as lack of support from major German health care stakeholders), it was not possible to conduct a randomized controlled trial., Conclusions: The project showed that large-scale systematic skin cancer screening is feasible and has the potential to reduce skin cancer burden, including mortality. Based on the results of SCREEN, a national statutory skin cancer early detection program was implemented in Germany in 2008., (Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The sojourn time of preclinical colorectal cancer is a critical parameter in modeling effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening. For ethical reasons, it cannot be observed directly, and available estimates are based mostly on relatively small historic data sets that do not include differentiation by age and sex. The authors derived sex- and age-specific estimates (age groups: 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and ≥80 years) of mean sojourn time, combining data from the German national screening colonoscopy registry (based on 1.88 million records) and data from population-based cancer registries (population base: 37.9 million people) for the years 2003-2006. Estimates of mean sojourn time were similar for both sexes and all age groups and ranged from 4.5 years (95% confidence interval: 4.1, 4.8) to 5.8 years (95% confidence interval: 5.3, 6.3) for the subgroups assessed. Sensitivity analyses indicated that mean sojourn time might be approximately 1.5 years longer if colorectal cancer prevalence in nonparticipants of screening colonoscopy is 20% lower than prevalence in participants or 1 year shorter if it exceeds the prevalence in participants by 20%. This study provides, for the first time, precise estimates of sojourn time by age and sex, and it suggests that sojourn times are remarkably consistent across age groups and in both sexes.

Simple Summary: An important component in the study of survival in breast cancer patients is how the tumor is detected. This involves examining whether and to what extent survival differs when the tumor is detected, for example, by screening or by symptoms. In such an analysis, it is important to note that survival times are influenced by several biases. One important factor is the bias due to the so-called lead time, i.e., the time by which the diagnosis has been brought forward by screening. Therefore, survival may appear to be longer even if earlier diagnosis did not affect disease progression. We examine whether there is a remaining survival difference after correction for bias that could be attributable to the mode of detection, for example, because of higher quality of care. These results can then be used to further improve the survival of breast cancer patients. (1) Background: Screen-detected breast cancer patients tend to have better survival than patients diagnosed with symptomatic cancer. The main driver of improved survival in screen-detected cancer is detection at earlier stage. An important bias is introduced by lead time, i.e., the time span by which the diagnosis has been advanced by screening. We examine whether there is a remaining survival difference that could be attributable to mode of detection, for example, because of higher quality of care. (2) Methods: Women with a breast cancer (BC) diagnosis in 2000–2022 were included from a population-based cancer registry from Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, which also registers the mode of cancer detection. Mammography screening was available from 2005 onwards. We compared the survival for BC detected by screening with symptomatic BC detection using Kaplan–Meier, unadjusted Cox regressions, and Cox regressions adjusted for age, grading, and UICC stage. Correction for lead time bias was carried out by assuming an exponential distribution of the period during which the tumor is asymptomatic but screen-detectable (sojourn time). We used a common estimate and two recently published estimates of sojourn times. (3) Results: The analysis included 32,169 women. Survival for symptomatic BC was lower than for screen-detected BC (hazard ratio (HR): 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21–0.25). Adjustment for prognostic factors and lead time bias with the commonly used sojourn time resulted in an HR of 0.84 (CI: 0.75–0.94). Using different sojourn times resulted in an HR of 0.73 to 0.90. (4) Conclusions: Survival for symptomatic BC was only one quarter of screen-detected tumors, which is obviously biased. After adjustment for lead-time bias and prognostic variables, including UICC stage, survival was 27% to 10% better for screen-detected BC, which might be attributed to BC screening. Although this result fits quite well with published results for other countries with BC screening, further sources for residual confounding (e.g., self-selection) cannot be ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Summary: Background And Aims: The evidence for the benefit of the skin cancer screening introduced in Germany in 2008 is weak. We investigate to what extent data from the German epidemiological cancer registries are suitable to contribute to the evaluation of skin cancer screening and report these evaluation results. Material And Methods: Skin cancer‐related cancer registry data from 1999–2019 were described in terms of completeness and comprehensiveness. Regional pools with data of different validity were defined, missing data were multiply imputed where appropriate, and temporal trends were analyzed. In addition, data from the cause of death statistics were used. Results: Reliable estimates of completeness are only available for malignant melanoma (ICD‐10: C43). Based on a regional data pool covering approximately 21% of the German population, melanoma‐related incidence can be validly described since 2005. Sufficient information for multiple imputation is available for T‐stage and localization. The trend analyses show incidence changes that can be expected in the short term in the temporal context of the introduction of early detection, which changes into a long‐lasting high incidence. The rate of advanced stages does not decrease significantly. From 2014 onwards, the melanoma mortality rate, which had been rising until then, decreases. Conclusions: Adequately selected and processed cancer registry data are suitable for population‐based evaluation of skin cancer screening. An explanation of the persistently high incidence level is not possible based on the cancer registry data. Overdiagnosis or an increase in the background incidence can be considered. The benefit of skin cancer screening remains open. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Risk-adjusted cancer screening and prevention is a promising and continuously emerging option for improving cancer prevention. It is driven by increasing knowledge of risk factors and the ability to determine them for individual risk prediction. However, there is a knowledge gap between evidence of increased risk and evidence of the effectiveness and efficiency of clinical preventive interventions based on increased risk. This gap is, in particular, aggravated by the extensive availability of genetic risk factor diagnostics, since the question of appropriate preventive measures immediately arises when an increased risk is identified. However, collecting proof of effective preventive measures, ideally by prospective randomized preventive studies, typically requires very long periods of time, while the knowledge about an increased risk immediately creates a high demand for action. Summary: Therefore, we propose a risk-adjusted prevention concept that is based on the best current evidence making needed and appropriate preventive measures available, and which is constantly evaluated through outcome evaluation, and continuously improved based on these results. We further discuss the structural and procedural requirements as well as legal and socioeconomical aspects relevant for the implementation of this concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Regarding skin cancer screening, patients in Germany have the choice between a direct screening by dermatologists or an initial screening by general practitioners followed by dermatological screening if further examination is required. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether screening by general practitioners is associated with risk selection in subsequent dermatological screenings. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study based on claims data from a German health insurance company (Barmer GEK). Patient pathways in skin cancer screenings between 2008 and 2016 were analyzed, and differences between the two groups were tested at 95 % confidence intervals. Results: A total of 495,000 initial and 111,000 secondary examinations by dermatologists were analyzed. The proportion of subsequent excisions was lower in initial screenings by dermatologists. To diagnose one person with non‐melanoma skin cancer or melanoma, five or 23 to 42 excisions were necessary, depending on the type of excision considered. The number of examinations to identify one patient ranged from 25 to 53 for non‐melanoma skin cancer and 42 to 165 for melanoma. For melanoma, the number of excisions and screenings to diagnose skin cancer was lower in secondary examinations. Conclusions: The results indicate a risk selection through initial examinations by general practitioners. However, there are other aspects that should be taken into account when comparing the two pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the benefits of skin cancer screening. The skin cancer screening involves a visual total-body skin examination by a physician who had undergone a training program. The main objective of melanoma screening is preventing melanoma deaths by early detection of suspicious lesions. Data suggested reduced melanoma mortality due to total-body skin examinations support the recommendations to check the human body regularly for suspicious skin lesions.