Table 1.

Current and past American Cancer Society (ACS) and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) screening guidelines applicable during the 2000 and 2005 National Health Interview (NHIS) Cancer Control Module surveys

Advising Body, publication year	Guidelines
ACS 2000	Examinations every 3 years from ages 20 to 39 years and annually after age 40. The cancer-related check-up should include examination for cancers of the …skin
ACS 2005	On the occasion of a periodic health examination, the cancer-related check-up should include: Examination for check-up cancers of the …skin
ACS 2007	Same as ACS 2005
USPSTF 1995 http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/guidecps/pcpstoc.htm	There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against either routine screening for skin cancer by primary care providers… A recommendation to consider referring patients at substantially increased risk of malignant melanoma to skin cancer specialists for evaluation and surveillance may be made on other grounds
USPSTF, current (updated 2001)	The evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine screening for skin cancer using a total-body skin examination for the early detection of cutaneous melanoma, basal cell cancer, or squamous cell skin cancer