Funding sources None.
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CLINICAL AND LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS
Laypersons’ sensitivity for melanoma identification is higher with dermoscopy images than clinical photographs
Article first published online: 9 OCT 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.11130.x
© 2012 The Authors. BJD © 2012 British Association of Dermatologists
Additional Information
How to Cite
Luttrell, M.J., McClenahan, P., Hofmann-Wellenhof, R., Fink-Puches, R. and Soyer, H.P. (2012), Laypersons’ sensitivity for melanoma identification is higher with dermoscopy images than clinical photographs. British Journal of Dermatology, 167: 1037–1041. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.11130.x
Conflicts of interests None declared.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 29 OCT 2012
- Article first published online: 9 OCT 2012
- Accepted manuscript online: 4 JUL 2012 02:20PM EST
- Accepted for publication 28 June 2012
- Abstract
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Summary
Background Most melanomas are first recognized by patients themselves or by their friends and family.
Objectives To assess the ability of laypersons to identify melanomas using dermoscopy images.
Methods This is an image-based study using laptop computers in the community. Seventeen laypersons were given a one-page educational brochure on the AC Rule for melanoma (asymmetry, colour variation). These laypersons and three expert dermoscopists completed two image sets, each containing a series of 100 pigmented skin lesions. Set 1 contained five melanomas, while set 2 contained 20 melanomas. Participants viewed a clinical image followed by a dermoscopy image for each lesion. For each image a score of 0–10 was assigned for asymmetry and colour, and then an overall assessment was made for suspicion of melanoma. Mean estimates have been calculated for sensitivity and specificity.
Results Laypersons achieved a clinical sensitivity of 91·2% and a significantly higher dermoscopy sensitivity of 94·0%, P = 0·013. This improvement was not associated with a significant change in overall specificity, which for the clinical image was 64·2% and with dermoscopy was 62·0%, P = 0·97.
Conclusions These results indicate that laypersons may be able to use dermoscopy to identify more melanomas than naked eye examination alone. Further study into the practice of dermoscopy by laypersons is warranted.