Validity of melanoma diagnosis in a community-based screening program (original) (raw)
2006, American journal of epidemiology
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Journal of Medical Screening, 2007
Background: Recently, massive increases in health-care costs for the diagnosis and management of skin lesions have been observed (2000–05). The aim of this study was to describe the health system costs attributed to the diagnosis and management of suspicious skin lesions detected during a trial of a population melanoma screening programme (1998–2001). Setting: Queensland, Australia. Methods: Data from the trial and Medicare Australia were used to categorize and cost all suspicious skin lesions arising from the trial, which included general practitioner consultations, diagnosis/management and pathology. Comparisons were made with other screened and unscreened populations. Results: Overall, 2982 lesions were treated within the trial producing a mean cost of Aus$118 per lesion. Excisions for benign lesions contributed the greatest proportion of total costs (45%). The total cost burden was approximately 10% higher for men than women, and 63% of overall costs were for persons aged...
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