1,776 research outputs found
Teledermoscopy in the Diagnosis of Melanocytic and Non-Melanocytic Skin Lesions: NurugoTM Derma Smartphone Microscope as a Possible New Tool in Daily Clinical Practice
Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teledermoscopy has been increasingly
used in the remote diagnosis of skin cancers. In a study conducted in 2020, we demonstrated a
potential role of an inexpensive device (NurugoTM Derma) as a first triage to select the skin lesions
that require a face-to-face consultation with dermatologists. Herein, we report the results of a
novel study that aimed to better investigate the performance of NurugoTM. Objectives: (i) verify
whether the NurugoTM can be a communication tool between the general practitioner (GP) and
dermatologist in the first assessment of skin lesions, (ii) analyze the degree of diagnostic–therapeutic
agreement between dermatologists, (iii) estimate the number of potentially serious diagnostic errors.
Methods: One hundred and forty-four images of skin lesions were collected at the Dermatology
Outpatient Clinic in Novara using a conventional dermatoscope (instrument F), the NurugoTM
(instrument N), and the latter with the interposition of a laboratory slide (instrument V). The images
were evaluated in-blind by four dermatologists, and each was asked to make a diagnosis and to
specify a possible treatment. Results: Our data show that F gave higher agreement values for all
dermatologists, concerning the real clinical diagnosis. Nevertheless, a medium/moderate agreement
value was obtained also for N and V instruments and that can be considered encouraging and indicate
that all examined tools can potentially be used for the first screening of skin lesions. The total amount
of misclassified lesions was limited (especially with the V tool), with up to nine malignant lesions
wrongly classified as benign. Conclusions: NurugoTM, with adequate training, can be used to build
a specific support network between GP and dermatologist or between dermatologists. Furthermore,
its use could be extended to the diagnosis and follow-up of other skin diseases, especially for frail
patients in emergencies, such as the current pandemic context
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