Adewole Adamson, MD, MPP: Addressing Melanoma Diagnosis and Overdiagnosis

Adewole (Ade) Adamson, MD, MPP, FAAD, assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology at Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, presented a session titled, "Approach to Melanoma Diagnosis" at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting. The session also tackled the increasingly significant topic of melanoma overdiagnosis, which has garnered heightened attention in recent years.

Over the last 40 years, melanoma incidence has surged 6-fold, while mortality has remained relatively stable, with some decline attributed to advancements in treatment, particularly with immunotherapy. "Mortality has stayed relatively flat for a majority of that," Adamson noted.

However, he pointed out that this trend raises significant concerns about overdiagnosis.

"Epidemiologic signature is really concerning for something called melanoma overdiagnosis, which is gaining more attention for the potential harm that it can cause to patients," he said.

Adamson's session examined the sources of the melanoma epidemic and discuss ways to address the problem. He emphasized the need for comprehensive dialogue, stating, "our session is dedicated to examining in a 360 fashion, the source of the epidemic, ways in which we can potentially combat it, how we can help patients and clinicians through it."

The discussion also included advice on how to stir debate on this controversial topic. "This is something that really needs to be discussed by dermatologists," Adamson said.

The session featured a multidisciplinary panel, including health services researchers, pathologists, and dermatologists, to address various challenges related to melanoma diagnosis, screening, and overdiagnosis.