Clinical and dermatoscopic diagnosis of malignant melanoma - Assessed by expert and non-expert groups

We investigated the nosographic and diagnostic probabilities and likelihood ratios of dermatoscopy in order to evaluate the method's role in decision- making regarding melanoma. Clinical slides and dermatoscopic photos were ob tained from 232 patients referred for dermatoscopy. Four dermatoscopy "expe rts" and 5 "non-experts" assessed the slides. Diagnoses were compared with histopathology. Sensitivity of the clinical assessments was 0.78 vs. 0.69 ( "experts" vs. "non-experts"), sensitivity of dermatoscopy assessment was 0. 83 vs. 0.69 (p = 0.04). The expert group demonstrated increased specificity (from 0.89 to 0.94) when applying dermatoscopy compared with clinical asse ssment alone (p=0.03). Positive likelihood ratios were doubled in the "expe rt group" and the negative likelihood ratios improved 25% with dermatoscopy compared with clinical assessment.