Reliability of Telemedicine in Evaluating Skin Tumors

Authors:
  • WBWilliam A. Burke
    William A. Burke
  • MAMary Helen Allen
    Mary Helen Allen
  • DSDebbie Stone
    Debbie Stone
  • JWJames L. Wilson
    James L. Wilson
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Abstract
To determine the reliability of videoconferencing technology in evaluating skin tumors, the impact of the technology on the clinicians' degree of suspicion that a skin tumor is malignant, and the recommendation to do a biopsy. Four skin cancer screenings were conducted at rural health care facilities in eastern North Carolina that were connected to East Carolina University School of Medicine. A dermatologist saw the patients in person at the local facility, and the same patient was seen by a dermatologist via a T-1 connection to Greenville, North Carolina. The two physicians were in absolute agreement on 59% of the 107 skin tumors evaluated. There were five lesions identified by the on-site dermatologist as a probable or definite malignancy. The degree of concern about a lesion being malignant and the decision whether to do a biopsy were not significantly different, as shown by kappa analysis. The concern about the malignancy of a particular skin lesion and the recommendation whether to do a biopsy were not significantly affected by telemedicine technology.

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