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Review
. 2022 Jun 13;36(2):101-106.
doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1749152. eCollection 2022 May.

Diagnostic Accuracy and Cost Savings Associated with Dermoscopy: An Economic Study

Ofir Shir-Az  1 , Dafna Shilo Yaacobi  2 , Ariel Berl  1 , Eyal Yosefof  3 , Andrew E Grush  4   5 , Avshalom Shalom  1
Affiliations
Review

Diagnostic Accuracy and Cost Savings Associated with Dermoscopy: An Economic Study

Ofir Shir-Az et al. Semin Plast Surg. .

Abstract

Cutaneous malignancies are the most common overall cancer worldwide. Dermoscopy is widely used among various specialties to evaluate skin lesions and to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. Our objective was to evaluate the diagnostic capability and the economic impact of dermoscopy. The accuracy of diagnoses and economic costs of treating skin lesions were compared between two periods: 2001 to 2007 (prior the use of dermoscopy) and 2009 to 2011 (following implementation of dermoscopy). During the earlier period, 6,549 skin lesions were excised, of which 1,042 (15.9%) were malignant. During the later period, 2,578 lesions were excised, of which 610 (23.7%) were malignant. The potential savings estimated for the Israeli health care system are 6,500,000 USD. The use of dermoscopy increases sensitivity in diagnosing malignant skin lesions, enables diagnoses at an earlier stage, and has the potential for major cost savings for the health care system.

Keywords: basal cell carcinoma; dermoscopy; economic impact; health care system; melanoma; squamous cell carcinoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest None declared.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
( A ) A solitary skin lesion of the upper back from a 57-year-old female, exhibiting asymmetry and color variation. ( B ) A dermoscopic photograph of a solitary skin lesion of the upper back from a 57-year-old female, exhibiting eccentric hyperpigmentation ( white circle ) and atypical vascular network in the background of vascular blush ( purple circle ).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
( A ) A solitary skin lesion of the left thigh from a 63-year-old female, clinically exhibiting asymmetry of borders, color variation, and regression. ( B ) A dermoscopic photograph of a solitary skin lesion of the left thigh from a 63-year-old female, exhibiting signs of regression and peppering ( white circle ), rhomboid structure ( purple circle ), and atypical pigmented network ( blue circle ).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
( A ) A solitary skin lesion of the left upper back from a 72-year-old male, exhibiting benign appearance. ( B ) A dermoscopic photograph of a solitary skin lesion of the left upper back from a 72-year-old male, exhibiting vascular blush ( blue circle ), negative pigmented network and globules ( white circle ), atypical globules in the periphery ( red ellipse ), and thick atypical network ( orange circle ).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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