Melanoma Screening

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Abstract
EARLY DETECTION of melanoma is usually the result of screening campaigns conducted by dermatologists or general practitioners.1-6 However, selection bias can be a limiting factor in this approach since participating subjects are often well aware of the risk of the disease. Screening can also take place in the context of occupational medicine, which in France operates as an established medical program that requires no additional structures or special funding for this purpose and avoids selection bias through systematic application. In fact, occupational medicine specialists (OMS) conduct an annual complete clinical examination of the French working population, which in 1995 represented 25.6 million persons (43.6% of the total population). As these examinations are mandatory for employees aged 18 to 65 years, bias through volunteer selection is avoided. Finally, OMS are totally independent in their relations with the persons examined since they are not in the liberal sector (ie, physician working in a private office).