Application Detail

Status

Open

Description of Medical Service

Photography of body regions (total body photography) allows future comparison to look for new pigmented lesions which may be melanoma. Close up high resolution photographs of existing moles and freckles (digital dermoscopy) can be used for future comparison to look for the early changes of melanoma arising in existing moles and freckles. This new digital/computer based technology assists in early detection of melanoma.

Description of Medical Condition

Melanoma is a cancer which arises from the cells in the skin that produce skin colour (pigment cells= melanocytes). Melanomas grow initially in the skin, but as they progress, can spread elsewhere in the body and kill the patient. This process is called metastasis.

Melanoma is a major cause of cancer death in Australia. A major cause of melanoma is sun exposure – especially during childhood. Other factors include genetic predisposition. Risk factors that put people at high risk include: (1) multiple sunburns; (2) fair skin; (3) family history of melanoma; (4) multiple moles; (5) irregularly appearing moles (known as dysplastic naevi); (6) solarium use; and (7) depressed immune system.

Reason for Application

New MBS item

Medical Service Type

Therapeutic

Previous Application Number

Not Applicable

Associated Documentation

Application Form

-

PICO Confirmation

PICO Confirmation (Word 712 KB)
PICO Confirmation (PDF 1023 KB)

Assessment Report

Assessment Report (Word 2907 KB)
Assessment Report (PDF 6323 KB)

Public Summary Document

Public Summary Document (Word 566 KB)
Public Summary Document (PDF 508 KB)

Meetings for this Application

PASC

16 - 17 April 2014
11 - 12 December 2014
11 - 12 August 2016

ESC

5 October 2017

MSAC

23 November 2017