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Soo Park, MD
Soo Park, MD
Posted: Friday, January 10, 2025
The practice of teledermoscopy, in which images of suspicious-looking skin growths are analyzed by remote specialists, may be as accurate as in-person examinations by dermatologists, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. David Polsky MD, PhD, of the Perlmutter Cancer Center and Department of Dermatology, New York Medical College and NYU Langone Health, and colleagues found in their prospective study that a system in which clinical images are captured using a dermoscope and sent to off-site skin cancer specialists for review appears to be a safe and accurate way to evaluate patients’ self-detected lesions of concern. The researchers highlighted the system’s potential to help address health disparities among melanoma patients.
“A key advantage of teledermoscopy platforms is that community health workers can be trained to collect images and send them out for expert review,” said Dr. Polsky in an NYU Langone Health press release. “As a result, this technology could be used in the future to offer virtual triage services in walk-in clinics, pharmacies, and community centers.”
A total of 147 patients with 375 self-identified skin lesions were included in the study. Participants underwent both a face-to-face dermoscopy-assisted examination by a dermatologist and a separate telemedicine evaluation by a team of pigmented lesion specialists working remotely and independently, assisted by an on-site research associate or medical student.
The investigators reported that 97% of participants’ skin lesions were benign, and that face-to-face examinations detected 11 out of 13 skin cancers with an accuracy of 93%. With clinical photos and dermoscopy alone, telemedicine also detected 11 of the 13 skin cancers, but with an accuracy of 91%. With the addition of Nevisense (a device currently FDA-approved only for in-office use), the telemedicine team detected 12 of the 13 skin cancers, but with a decreased accuracy of 83%. Among the 78% of participants who completed postintervention questionnaires, overall worry about skin spots decreased (P < .01), and 89% agreed or strongly agreed that they would feel more at ease being evaluated by a teledermatologist than not being evaluated at all.
Disclosure: The study authors reported no conflicts of interest.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
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