A teledermatological approach to enhance diagnostic accuracy in dermatohistopathology

Abstract

We determined whether digital photographs of skin lesions could enhance diagnostic accuracy in dermatohistological evaluations. Two dermatohistopathologists examined 375 unsorted consecutive cases. On a standardized questionnaire they recorded whether the final diagnostic interpretation would be improved by the availability of digital images of the skin lesions. In 101 cases (27%) they said that digital photographs would be helpful. Subsequently, 30 histological analyses were performed with and without digital photographs of the skin lesions. Presentation of digital photographs reduced the number of differential diagnoses significantly, from a median of 3 to 2. Ratings of ability to make a single definitive diagnosis increased significantly with the presentation of digital photographs. Enhancement of information given by the digital images was scored a median of 6 (on a scale of 0–10, with higher scores reflecting greater enhancement). Digital photographs of skin lesions are likely to refine diagnostic accuracy in histopathology.