Teledermatology for Enhancing Skin Cancer Diagnosis and Management: Retrospective Chart Review

Abstract

Background Skin cancer rates are at all-time highs, but the shortage of dermatologists compels patients to seek medical advice from general practitioners. A new referral pathway called the Suspected Skin Cancer (SSC) service was established to provide general practitioners in Waikato, New Zealand, with rapid diagnosis and treatment advice for lesions suspicious for skin cancer. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the quantity, quality, and characteristics of referrals to the SSC teledermatology service during its first 6 months. Methods A retrospective chart review of all referrals sent to the SSC teledermatology service during the first 6 months of its operation was conducted. Time to advice, diagnoses, diagnostic discordance, adherence to advice, and time to treatment were recorded. Diagnostic discordance between general practitioners, dermatologists, and pathologists was calculated. Results The SSC service received 340 referrals for 402 lesions. Dermatologists diagnosed 256 (63.7%) of these lesions as benign; 56 (13.9%) were histologically confirmed as malignant, including 19 (4.7%) melanomas. The overall discordance between referrer and dermatologist on specific and broad (ie, benign or malignant) diagnoses for 402 lesions was 47% and 26% (κ=0.58, SD 0.07), respectively; 44% and 26% (κ=0.61, SD 0.15) between referrer and pathologist; and 18% and 12% (κ=0.82, SD 0.12) between dermatologist and pathologist. The mean time between referral submission and receiving advice was 1.02 days. The average time to action (eg, excision) was 64.8 days. Conclusions An electronic referral system can be an effective form of teledermatology for providing prompt diagnosis and management advice for benign and malignant skin lesions.