Abstract
Objective: To evaluate organizational structure and diagnostic procedures used by the Italian hospital network for identifying cutaneous melanoma. Methods: A nationwide survey of a representative sample of centers was conducted. Results: Diagnosis occurs mainly in ambulatory dermatology clinics (91%). In all high-volume hospitals, clinical and dermoscopic examination is available at first consultation or as an additional service, compared to 89% of low-volume hospitals. Computer-assisted videodermoscopy is available in 75% of hospitals, with a statistically significant difference between high-and low-volume hospitals (86 vs. 62%; p <0.001). First consultation is generally an integrated clinical/dermoscopic evaluation (55% of high-volume centers vs. 47% of low-volume hospitals); digital evaluation is available for monitoring suspicious lesions and high-risk patients in 25% of high-volume centers versus 19% of low-volume centers. Conclusions: The organizational structure and diagnostic procedures in Italian hospitals are in line with modern diagnostic procedures for early diagnosis of melanoma. Dermatologists have a central role in managing diagnosis of primitive melanoma.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 3-6 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Dermatology |
Volume | 226 |
Issue number | SUPPL.1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2013 |
Keywords
- Dermoscopy
- Diagnostic services
- Digital dermoscopy
- Epiluminescence microscopy
- Melanoma
- Mole mapping
- Nevi
- Pigmented skin lesions
- Skin cancer unit
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology