The reliability of diagnosis using store-and-forward teledermatology

Abstract

We compared diagnoses made by a teledermatologist from digital photographs and patient histories sent from general practitioners using a store-and-forward technique and those made by another dermatologist in a face-to-face consultation with the same patients. A total of 117 patients (mean age 47 years) were referred by 18 general practitioners for diagnosis of a skin condition. Between one and seven digital images were transmitted per case. In 31% of the cases, three images were transmitted. There was full concordance between store-and-forward and face-to-face diagnoses in 57 of 106 cases (54%); in 10 cases (9%) there was overlap between the differential diagnoses provided by the teledermatologist and the face-to-face consultant. Diagnostic categories with relatively high concordances were eczema and follicular eruptions. General practitioners need to be trained in the making of digital images and in giving a good patient history.