Evaluation of the skin melanoma screening program in the Krasnoyarsk territory in 2017 and 2023: observational retrospective study

BACKGROUND. «Melanoma Day» is a screening campaign which focuses on the detection of melanoma and other malignant skin tumors in the population, and also has an educational aspect aimed at both primary and secondary prevention malignant tumors of the skin.

AIMS – The evaluation and comparison the results of screening for melanoma and other skin neoplasms, carried out as part of the Melanoma Day in the Krasnoyarsk Territory in 2017 and 2023.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. An observational retrospective study was conducted at the Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Professor V.F. Voyno-Yasenetsky (Krasnoyarsk region of Russian Federation), including an analysis of completed questionnaires and patient examination data in order to identify risk factors for the development of melanoma and other malignant skin neoplasms. Statistical processing of the results was carried out on the basis of constructing contingency tables with subsequent determination of the level of statistical significance using Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS. During the campaign in the Krasnoyarsk Territory in 2017, 234 people aged 1 to 85 took part in screening, in 2023 – 207 people aged 3 to 84 years old. Based on clinical signs, in 2017, 1.3% of patients were suspected of melanoma, 7.7% of dysplastic nevi, and 0.9% of basal cell carcinoma. In 2023, clinical signs of melanoma were detected in 2.4% of patients, dysplastic nevi in 3.9% of patients, basal cell carcinoma in 1% of patients, and squamous cell carcinoma in 0.5% of participants. Other types of skin neoplasms were reported by 29.5% of participants in 2017 and 34.3% in 2023. Patients with clinical signs of melanoma and other malignant skin tumors were referred for additional examination to the regional oncological center.

Taking together the results of 2017 and 2023, it was found the decrease in a percentage of Krasnoyarsk non-residents that in 2023 as well as decrease in the percentage of patients aged 50-64 years who are at risk for skin cancer. Besides, participants in 2023 were characterized by higher level of their awareness concerning melanoma risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS. Taking into account not only the diagnostic, but also the educational component, Melanoma Day can be recognized as valid event for the public health system, and the expansion of the geography of this screening project in the future can increase the detection of malignant skin lesions in the early stages.