BMJ  2003;327 (16 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7411.0-d

Diagnosis of melanoma is not helped by algorithm and camera

Providing urban Australian general practitioners with an instant camera and an algorithm did not improve the ratio of benign to malignant lesions they excised. Theoretically, using such aids should reduce unnecessary excisions of pigmented skin moles that arouse suspicion of melanoma. In a controlled trial randomised by general practice in Perth, English and colleagues (p 375) found that the ratio of benign lesions to melanomas excised was higher in the intervention practices than the control practices. Their findings contradict an earlier study in two small provincial cities, which had found that using an instant camera and algorithm reduced the ratio without reducing the number of melanomas diagnosed. The authors say that the discrepancy might be accounted for by the availability of specialists in the metropolitan setting of their trial.

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Evaluation of aid to diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions in general practice: controlled trial randomised by practice

Dallas R English, Robert C Burton, Chris B del Mar, Robert J Donovan, Paul D Ireland, and Geoff Emery
BMJ 2003 327: 375. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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