Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35150158›Full record

ArticleClinical and experimental dermatology2022

Method of Assessing Skin Cancerization and Keratoses

Christopher Baker, Amelia James, Madeleine Supranowicz, Lynda Spelman, Stephen Shumack, Judith Cole, Warren Weightman, Robert Sinclair, Peter Foley

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical and experimental dermatology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Christopher BakerDepartment of Dermatology, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia.
Amelia JamesDepartment of Dermatology, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia.
Madeleine SupranowiczSpecialist Connect Services, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Lynda SpelmanSpecialist Connect Services, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Stephen ShumackSydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Judith ColeDepartment of Dermatology, St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, WA, Australia.
Warren WeightmanDepartment of Dermatology Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, SA, Australia.
Robert SinclairSpecialist Connect Services, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Peter FoleyDepartment of Dermatology, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA range of 'field-directed' treatments is available for the management of extensive skin field cancerization (ESFC), but to date, the only validated objective quantitative tools are limited to assessment of actinic keratoses (AKs) affecting the head.

aimsTo develop a versatile quantitative instrument for objective clinical assessment of ESFC and perform initial internal validation across multiple anatomical zones.

methodsThe study comprised instrument development, pilot testing and instrument refinement and two rounds of reliability and inter-rater validation testing. The study was noninterventional and used a convenience sample of de-identified patient photographs selected based on preset criteria. An expert panel developed the instrument and scoring system via a modified Delphi voting process. A sample of 16 healthcare professionals from multiple specialties undertook the pilot testing, and a panel of seven dermatologists were involved in validation testing. Validation was determined by assessment of overall inter-rater agreement using Gwet chance-corrected agreement coefficients (ACs).

resultsThe instrument produced, called the Method for Assessing Skin Cancer and Keratoses™ (MASCK™), comprises the Skin Field Cancerization Index (SFCIndex), derived from area of skin involvement and AKs (number and thickness), a global assessment score and a cancer-in-zone score, and uses Likert scales for quantitative scoring. The SFCIndex is a composite score comprising the number and thickness of AKs multiplied by area of skin involvement. ACs for the SFCIndex components, the overall SFCIndex score and the global assessment score were > 0.80 (rated 'almost perfect') while the AC for the cancer-in-zone metric was lower (0.33, rated 'fair'). Internal consistency was demonstrated via positive correlation between the overall SFCIndex score and the global assessment score.

conclusionsOur study found near-perfect agreement in inter-rater reliability when using MASCK to assess the severity of ESFC in multiple anatomical sites. Further validation of this novel instrument is planned to specifically assess its reliability, utility and feasibility in clinical practice.

Indexed as

Keratosis, ActinicSkin NeoplasmsHumansPhotographyReproducibility of ResultsResearch Design

Identifiers

PMID35150158
PMCPMC9313559

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.