Skin biopsy utilization and melanoma incidence among Medicare beneficiaries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Melanoma incidence has increased in recent decades in the U.S.A. Uncertainty remains regarding how much of this increase is attributable to greater melanoma screening activities, potential detection bias and overdiagnosis.

Objectives

To use a cross-sectional ecological analysis to evaluate the relationship between skin biopsy and melanoma incidence rates over a more recent time period than prior reports.

Methods

Examination of the association of biopsy rates and melanoma incidence (invasive and in situ) in SEER-Medicare data (including 10 states) for 2002-2009.

Results

The skin biopsy rate increased by approximately 50% (6% per year) throughout this 8-year period, from 7012 biopsies per 100 000 persons in 2002 to 10 528 biopsies per 100 000 persons i

SUBMITTER: Weinstock MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5357200 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature