Teledermatology: From Prevention to Diagnosis of Nonmelanoma and Melanoma Skin Cancer

Abstract

Telemedicine is a rapidly developing application of clinical medicine where medical information is transferred through interactive audiovisual media for the purpose of consulting remote medical procedures or examinations, reducing the time of consultation for patients. Teledermatology as an application of telemedicine was developed in 1995: it turns out to be a gradually more ordinary mean of delivering dermatologic healthcare worldwide and will almost certainly have a greater medical function in the future. In particular, teledermatology can aid in the prevention and diagnosis of nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancer; telemedicine and teledermatology offer the opportunity to make available consultations with experts also by long distance. Overall, patients seem to accept teledermatology, considering it as an excellent mean to obtain healthcare, particularly in those areas with no expert dermatologists available. Clinicians have also generally reported affirmative experiences with teledermatology in the skin cancer field. Further studies focusing on cost effectiveness, patient outcomes, and patient and clinician satisfaction will facilitate to delineate the potential of teledermatology as a mean of prevention and diagnosis of nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancer.

Live interactive teledermatology compared to in‐person care – a systematic review

“…Telemedicine, a specific form of eHealth, has been progressing in a rapid pace over the last two decades and is offering opportunities to improve access to healthcare delivery and expertize, to improve the overall quality of care and to reduce healthcare costs . The use of telemedical applications in the field of dermatology is particularly promising as, due to the good visibility of most dermatological conditions, recording of pictures or videos is highly suitable . Hence, the field of teledermatology puts forth many innovative applications every year and even more will probably follow in the future .…”

“…1,2 The use of telemedical applications in the field of dermatology is particularly promising as, due to the good visibility of most dermatological conditions, recording of pictures or videos is highly suitable. [2][3][4] Hence, the field of teledermatology puts forth many innovative applications every year and even more will probably follow in the future. 5 Using teledermatological applications can lead to various advantages with regard to costs, disease burden and access to healthcare for the individual as well as for the society.…”

Télédermatologie : usage et intérêt des médecins généralistes

“…Tableau 9: Récapitulatif les principales caractéristiques concernant la pratique de la TD ( Dans le modèle des tumeurs cutanées comme les mélanomes, elle permet une amélioration de la prise en charge initiale et du suivi (16), avec une bonne concordance en comparaison avec des consultations conventionnelles (17). Enfin elle constitue une bonne solution pour gérer les pathologies dermatologiques dans les pays en voie de développement (18) ou dans les situations d'urgence (19).…”

Information Systems Strategic Planning for a Naval Hospital

“…Telemedicine is a medical application in which information is transferred through an interactive audio and visual media. Telemedicine aims to deliver medical consultations and examinations to remote area, thereby reducing the patient's need to travel [23]. Telemedicine could potentially overcome geographical barriers, improve access to patients, facilitate collaboration between health care providers in patient treatment, leading to reduction in patient mortality [24].…”