Comparative Study Finds No Significant Melanoma Mortality Reduction From German Screening Initiative

A study of a German nationwide skin cancer screening (SCS) program showed reduced melanoma mortality compared with neighboring European countries that do not have population-based screening programs.

Germany launched its nationwide SCS program in 2008, which included adults aged 35 years and older who received a visual skin examination every two years regardless of individual risk factors. Participation was estimated at approximately 32%. Researchers evaluated melanoma mortality trends from 2009 through 2022 across 15 German federal states and nine neighboring countries using official cause-of-death statistics. 

Decline in Melanoma Mortality Declined Regardless of Program

Investigators found that age-standardized melanoma mortality rates declined in all evaluated regions during the study period. Annual percentage changes (APCs) in melanoma mortality ranged from −3.8% to −0.1% in Germany and from −3.8% to −1.0% in control regions. Pooled APC estimates showed mortality declined by 1.8% annually in Germany (95% CI, −2.3% to −1.4%) and by 2.2% annually in neighboring countries (95% CI, −2.8% to −1.6%). The difference between Germany and control regions was not statistically significant (P = 0.42).

"The findings of this ecological study are in line with previous studies that failed to show a melanoma mortality benefit associated with the German SCS program," the authors wrote. "To enable a well-founded decision on the future of the program, the causes of its poor performance should be investigated."

Source

Hübner J, et al. JAMA Dermatology. 2026. Doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2026.1527