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.

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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.

In this episode, we explore how melanoma risk prediction tools are transforming clinical decision-making for newly diagnosed patients. These tools, developed by Melanoma Institute Australia and freely available at melanomarisk.org.au, help clinicians tailor care and improve outcomes.

Our multidisciplinary experts provide practical guidance on using tools to predict sentinel node metastasis, recurrence risk and more. Through real-world case examples and expert insights, this episode offers valuable strategies for integrating personalised risk assessment into your practice.

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

Resources:

• Melanoma Risk Prediction Calculators
• MIA's Patient Resources
• Melanoma Education Portal

Speakers:

• Prof Anne Cust - Cancer Epidemiologist and Faculty Member, Melanoma Institute Australia | Interim Director, Daffodil Centre | Chair, Cancer Council National Skin Cancer Committee

• A/Prof Alex Varey - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Melanoma Institute Australia and Westmead Hospital | Clinical Associate Professor, The University of Sydney

• A/Prof Linda Martin - Director of Dermatology Services, Melanoma Institute Australia | Staff Specialist, Sydney Children’s Hospital | Associate Professor of Dermatology, University of NSW

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 BMS, MSD and HEINE.

In this episode of Melanoma Insights for Professionals, we explore the evolving role of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in melanoma management—particularly in the modern context of perioperative drug therapy.

Our expert panel unpacks current evidence, shifting guidelines and real-world clinical considerations influencing when and why SNB is performed. Topics include prognostic value, surgical decision-making, pathological assessment, patient-centred perspectives and the impact of new treatment approaches on traditional staging practices.

This podcast is produced by Melanoma Institute Australia and is suitable for multidisciplinary specialists, primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals.

RESOURCES:

• Melanoma Risk Prediction Tools
• Patient Brochure on SNB
• MIA's Melanoma Education Portal

SPEAKERS

• A/Prof Alexander van Akkooi - Associate Professor in Melanoma Surgical Oncology, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The University of Sydney
• A/Prof Robyn Saw - Surgical Oncologist, Melanoma Institute Australia | Head of Department in Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital | Associate Professor in Surgery, The University of Sydney
• A/Prof Alexander Menzies - Medical Oncologist, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal North Shore and Mater Hospitals | Associate Professor of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Sydney
• Dr Robert Rawson - Pathologist, Melanoma Institute Australia |Tissue Pathology Staff Specialist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (May 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.