GERMANY SKIN CANCER DIAGNOSTICS MARKET FORECAST 2023-2030

Malignant melanoma has projected a continuous rise in the last decade in Germany, attributed to shifting leisure behavior resulting in increased UV exposure. Such factors are expected to offer growth opportunities for the skin cancer diagnostics market in Germany. 

The Germany skin cancer diagnostics market segmentation includes gender, type, and screening type. The screening type segment includes dermatoscopy, biopsy imaging tests, skin biopsy, blood tests, and lymph node. 

A skin biopsy is a medical procedure that extracts a small portion of the skin for examination. It helps diagnose skin lesions or abnormal skin areas. The skin sample is scrutinized under a microscope, which helps healthcare professionals identify skin infections or conditions and skin cancer. As determined by medical necessity, biopsies are selectively performed on specific skin lesions. 

Further, there are three primary methods for conducting a skin biopsy on the basis of the depth, size, and location of the skin lesion. These include excisional biopsy, punch biopsy, and shave biopsy.

In an excisional biopsy, the lump or irregular skin area is surgically removed using a scalpel. The extracted tissue may include deeper skin layers alongside a margin of healthy skin. In punch biopsy, a round-tipped cutting instrument is used to remove a small cylindrical core of skin containing deeper layers like the top layer of the fat, dermis, and epidermis. Whereas in shave biopsy, a razor-like tool is used to gently scrape the surface layers of the skin, including the dermis and epidermis, to collect a cell sample. 

Dermatoscopy, or dermoscopy, encompasses examining the skin using specialized surface microscopy techniques. It is specifically useful for evaluating pigmented skin lesions and plays an important role in facilitating the diagnosis of melanoma when performed by experienced professionals. The procedure necessitates the use of a powerful lighting system and a high-quality magnifying lens. In addition, it helps examine nails, hair, and the scalp. 

Whereas image-guided biopsy uses specialized imaging equipment to assist doctors in getting an accurate tissue sample. It can be deployed to accurately target the specific area of the body for biopsy, thereby ensuring maximum safety. The imaging equipment employed includes Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, X-ray, Computed Tomography (CT) scan, and Ultrasound.

MRI employs a powerful magnet and radio waves to capture body images in slices. X-rays use low radiation levels to capture images of the body’s internal structure. A CT scan entails a series of X-ray images captured from several angles by an X-ray machine linked to a computer. Ultrasound is a non-audible high-energy sound wave technology that produces echoes when it encounters body tissues.

Some of the eminent firms operating in the Germany skin cancer diagnostics market are bioMérieux SA, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, NeraCare GmbH, etc.

NeraCare GmbH is a healthcare company that develops and commercializes molecular diagnostic tests for skin cancer patients. It provides tests for a genomic-based, individualized, and comprehensive risk assessment for stage I-III melanoma patients. The company has its headquarters in Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany. 

One of its key products, MELAGENIX, is a quantitative RT-PCR assay based on the expression of eleven genes in and around primary melanoma tissue.