The influence of dermoscopy education over 14 years at a single institution: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

To the Editor: Dermoscopy has been shown to improve the benign to malignant ratio for suspected melanoma, 1 Bafounta M.L. Beauchet A. Aegerter P. Saiag P. Is dermoscopy (epiluminescence microscopy) useful for the diagnosis of melanoma? Results of a meta-analysis using techniques adapted to the evaluation of diagnostic tests. Arch Dermatol. 2001; 137: 1343-1350 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar ,2 Carli P. De Giorgi V. Crocetti E. et al. Improvement of malignant/benign ratio in excised melanocytic lesions in the 'dermoscopy era': a retrospective study 1997-2001. Br J Dermatol. 2004; 150: 687-692 Crossref PubMed Scopus (195) Google Scholar but not all dermatologists use dermoscopy. 3 Murzaku E.C. Hayan S. Rao B.K. Methods and rates of dermoscopy usage: a cross-sectional survey of US dermatologists stratified by years in practice. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014; 71: 393-395 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (24) Google Scholar Previously, we reported the clinical accuracy for identifying melanoma in our institution in 2005, 4 Soares T.F. Laman S.D. Yiannias J.A. et al. Factors leading to the biopsy of 1547 pigmented lesions at Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2005. Int J Dermatol. 2009; 48: 1053-1056 Crossref PubMed Scopus (14) Google Scholar when dermoscopy use and training was limited in the department. In 2006, our department made formal comprehensive formal training available to all providers with annual review. We aimed to review the outcomes and clinical accuracy for identifying melanoma in 2019 to assess the benefit of the comprehensive dermoscopy curriculum.