Overdiagnosis or early detection? The controversy of melanoma in situ

Melanoma Insights for Professionals

As melanoma in situ (MIS) diagnoses rise, concerns about overdiagnosis are growing — with real implications for patients, clinicians and the health system.

In this episode of our podcast Melanoma Insights for Professionals, experts from dermatology, pathology, psychology and research come together to explore the drivers of overdiagnosis, the psychological impact of an MIS label, and the role of emerging diagnostic tools and data.

This podcast is suitable for multidisciplinary specialist, primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals.

SPEAKERS

• Dr Peter Ferguson - Pathologist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Melanoma Institute Australia
• Dr Christoph Sinz - Confocal Microscopy Dermatologist, Melanoma Institute Australia
• Claire Gore - Senior Clinical Psychologist, Melanoma Institute Australia
• Dr Ismael Vergara - Senior Computational Biologist, Melanoma Institute Australia | Adjunct Senior Lecturer, The University of Sydney

RESOURCES

• MIA’s Patient Guides (e.g. Your Guide to Melanoma In-Situ)
• MIA’s Patient Fact Sheets (e.g. Scanxiety)

REFERENCES

• Bjørch MF, Gram EG, Brodersen JB Overdiagnosis in malignant melanoma: a scoping review BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine 2024;29:17-28.
• Cramb SM, Duncan EW, Aitken JF, Soyer HP, Mengersen KL, Baade PD. Geographical patterns in melanoma incidence across Australia: Can thickness differentials reveal the key drivers? Ann Cancer Epidemiol 2020;4:11
• Daniel Lindsay, Katy J L Bell, Catherine M Olsen, David C Whiteman, Thanya Pathirana, Louisa G Collins, Estimating the magnitude and healthcare costs of melanoma in situand thin invasive melanoma overdiagnosis in Australia British Journal of Dermatology, 2024;191(6): 906–913,
• Patel VR, Roberson ML, Pignone MP, Adamson AS. Risk of Mortality After a Diagnosis of Melanoma In Situ. JAMA Dermatol.2023;159(7):703–710.

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (August 2025) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia.

MIA’s Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from Bristol Myers Squibb, MSD and HEINE.