Gozo populace to be involved in melanoma research

A study on melanoma is to commence in Gozo later this year, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono said yesterday.

She said that this was the first worldwide study of its type since a whole population, aged 16 and over, would be studied for melanoma incidence.

The Maltese Association of Dermatology and Venereology, together with the University of Siena, the University of Melbourne and the Ministry for Gozo will be carrying out the intensive exercise as from September.

In the three-year project, the population of Gozo will be screened for early melanoma symptoms.

Similar exercises were carried out in Italy and Australia but were never spread over the whole population.

Melanoma is a skin cancer that will invariably cause death if it is deep within the skin or has spread to other parts of the body. Radiotherapy and anticancer drugs are not usually useful in late cases. It is thus vital to use any proven method that increases the diagnostic rate of early melanoma. Computer-aided diagnosis is proposed to achieve this and increase substantially the diagnostic accuracy (90 per cent+).

In Gozo, diagnosis through a computerised system, perfected by the University of Siena, will be used. This technological system uses imaging and completely non-invasive techniques to scan lesions and moles that are then compared electronically with an extensive databank of similar moles. This is a very efficient way to screen the skin and obtain results in a short time, indicating whether the spot in question is absolutely benign or whether it is best removed and examined in the laboratory.

Mrs Debono said Italian experts would be back in Gozo later on this year to commence the first phase of the intensive study, which was being done in consultation with Maltese and Australian experts.

All logistical support throughout the study is being coordinated by the Ministry for Gozo, through the Gozo General Hospital, where medical and nursing staff are being involved.

The minister invited all Gozitans aged 16 and over to collaborate in the research.