In-Person Exam With Dermoscopy Yields More Accurate Skin Cancer Diagnosis
Source: Dermatology Advisor, November 2024
Accuracy in diagnosing skin cancer varies depending on the examination method used and on the physician’s specialty and experience level, according to research published in JAMA Dermatology.
Researchers found that experienced dermatologists diagnose more accurately than inexperienced dermatologists or primary care providers, and the use of in-person clinical examination plus dermoscopy can lead to more accurate results than the use of either method alone.
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the researchers analyzed data on the diagnosis of keratinocytic carcinoma and melanoma from 100 studies. The studies were designed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of unassisted in-person clinical examination, clinical digital images, in-person dermoscopy, and dermoscopic digital images. Diagnoses were made by dermatologists and primary care providers.