Two years' experience with Web-based teleconsulting in dermatology

Abstract

A non-commercial teledermatology network based on store-and-forward operation was established in April 2002. The aim was to create an easy-to-use platform for teleconsultation services, where physicians could seek diagnostic advice in dermatology from a pool of expert consultants and where they could present and discuss challenging dermatology cases with special emphasis on diagnosis and therapy. An online moderated discussion forum was added in October 2003. During the first two years, 348 health-care professionals from 45 countries registered to use the Website. A total of 783 requests for consultations were answered; 285 requests concerned pigmented skin lesions, 440 requests were from the whole range of clinical dermatology and 58 requests were about non-melanoma skin cancer. Of a total of 133 requests analysed, 80 (60%) were answered within one day, 47 (35%) within one week, five (4%) within two weeks and one (1%) consultation was answered in more than two weeks. Our experience with a discretionary, non-commercial, multilingual Website for open-access teleconsulting in dermatology appears to be successful. The Website represents an example of user-generated content, together with active interaction between users, who can present and discuss cases with remote colleagues.

Accuracy of teledermatology for nonpigmented neoplasms

“…Macro images, the standard method used in most teledermatology settings at the onset of the study, [15][16][17][18][19][20] and PLD images were obtained for each lesion. Two macro images (distance and close-up; digital Nikon Coolpix 4500 with a Nikon SL-1 ring flash [Nikon, Melville, NY]) were obtained of each lesion.…”

The User-Generated Web-Based Dermoscopy Image Archive of the International Dermoscopy Society: A Contribution to E-Learning and Exchange of Knowledge

“…It has previously been demonstrated [1] that open-access teledermatology may serve as a successful platform [9,10] for challenging dermoscopic cases, where advice on diagnosis and therapy can be provided. This is emphasized by the fact that past studies have shown a high diagnostic concordance between telediagnosis and face-toface diagnosis for pigmented lesions [11][12][13] .…”

Biopsy of the pigmented lesion—When and how

“…120 With the advent of the Internet, digital photography, especially when it relates to digital dermatoscopic features, allows for consultations with specialists and can be utilized for accurate identification of the lesion when referring to a surgeon. [125][126][127][128] An increasing body of evidence supports the utility of total body digital photography. In 18 patients followed up for diagnostically uncertain melanocytic proliferations, Rivers et al 129 attributed early detection of melanomas to changes seen from baseline photographs.…”