A M Forsea1, P Tschandl2, I Zalaudek3, V Del Marmol4, H P Soyer5, G Argenziano6, A C Geller7. 1. Dermatology Department, Elias University Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. 2. Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 3. Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Unit, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. 4. Dermatology Department, Hopital Erasme, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium. 5. Dermatology Research Centre, School of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia. 6. Dermatology Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. 7. Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dermoscopy is a widely used technique that can increase the sensitivity and specificity of melanoma detection. Information is lacking on the impact of dermoscopy use on the detection of melanoma in the real-life practice of European dermatologists. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that influence the benefit of using dermoscopy for increasing melanoma detection and lowering the number of unnecessary biopsies in the practice of European dermatologists. METHODS: We conducted a survey of dermatologists registered in 32 European countries regarding the following: the demographic and practice characteristics, dermoscopy training and use, opinions on dermoscopy and the self-estimated impact of dermoscopy use on the number of melanomas detected and the number of unnecessary biopsies performed in practice. RESULTS: Valid answers were collected for 7480 respondents, of which 6602 reported using dermoscopy. Eighty-six per cent of dermoscopy users reported that dermoscopy increased the numbers of melanomas they detected, and 70% reported that dermoscopy decreased the number of unnecessary biopsies of benign lesions they performed. The dermatologists reporting these benefits were more likely to have received dermoscopy training during residency, to use dermoscopy frequently and intensively, and to use digital dermoscopy systems and pattern analysis compared to dermatologists who did not perceive any benefit of dermoscopy for the melanoma recognition in their practice. CONCLUSIONS: Improving dermoscopy training, especially during residency and increasing access to digital dermoscopy equipment are important paths to enhance the benefit of dermoscopy for melanoma detection in the practice of European dermatologists.
BACKGROUND: Dermoscopy is a widely used technique that can increase the sensitivity and specificity of melanoma detection. Information is lacking on the impact of dermoscopy use on the detection of melanoma in the real-life practice of European dermatologists. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that influence the benefit of using dermoscopy for increasing melanoma detection and lowering the number of unnecessary biopsies in the practice of European dermatologists. METHODS: We conducted a survey of dermatologists registered in 32 European countries regarding the following: the demographic and practice characteristics, dermoscopy training and use, opinions on dermoscopy and the self-estimated impact of dermoscopy use on the number of melanomas detected and the number of unnecessary biopsies performed in practice. RESULTS: Valid answers were collected for 7480 respondents, of which 6602 reported using dermoscopy. Eighty-six per cent of dermoscopy users reported that dermoscopy increased the numbers of melanomas they detected, and 70% reported that dermoscopy decreased the number of unnecessary biopsies of benign lesions they performed. The dermatologists reporting these benefits were more likely to have received dermoscopy training during residency, to use dermoscopy frequently and intensively, and to use digital dermoscopy systems and pattern analysis compared to dermatologists who did not perceive any benefit of dermoscopy for the melanoma recognition in their practice. CONCLUSIONS: Improving dermoscopy training, especially during residency and increasing access to digital dermoscopy equipment are important paths to enhance the benefit of dermoscopy for melanoma detection in the practice of European dermatologists.
Authors: Andreas Blum; Friedrich A Bahmer; Jürgen Bauer; Ralph P Braun; Brigitte Coras-Stepanek; Teresa Deinlein; Thomas Eigentler; Christine Fink; Claus Garbe; Holger A Haenssle; Rainer Hofmann-Wellenhof; Harald Kittler; Jürgen Kreusch; Hubert Pehamberger; Hans Schulz; H Peter Soyer; Wilhelm Stolz; Philipp Tschandl; Iris Zalaudek Journal: Hautarzt Date: 2019-11 Impact factor: 0.751
Authors: Daniel S Gareau; James Browning; Joel Correa Da Rosa; Mayte Suarez-Farinas; Samantha Lish; Amanda M Zong; Benjamin Firester; Charles Vrattos; Yael Renert-Yuval; Mauricio Gamboa; María G Vallone; Zamira F Barragán-Estudillo; Alejandra L Tamez-Peña; Javier Montoya; Miriam A Jesús-Silva; Cristina Carrera; Josep Malvehy; Susana Puig; Ashfaq Marghoob; John A Carucci; James G Krueger Journal: J Biomed Opt Date: 2020-11 Impact factor: 3.170