ArticleCureus2025
Outcomes of Urgent Suspected Cancer, Urgent, and Routine Skin Lesion Referrals Assessed via Teledermoscopy Service: A Retrospective Analysis.
Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Article
- Primary Care Skin Lesion Referrals Assessed via Teledermatology: A Retrospective Analysis.Cureus · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTeledermoscopy facilitates the remote assessment of skin lesions by combining high-quality clinical and dermoscopic images. This technology enhances early detection of skin cancers by allowing specialists to evaluate lesions without the need for an in-person consultation. Beyond improving diagnostic accuracy, teledermoscopy supports efficient triage, prioritising patients who require urgent attention while reducing unnecessary clinic visits. Additionally, it enables longitudinal digital monitoring of lesions, allowing clinicians to track subtle changes over time, improve patient follow-up, and guide timely interventions.
aimTo evaluate diagnostic outcomes and management decisions from primary care skin lesion referrals assessed via teledermoscopy across urgent suspected cancer (USC), urgent, and routine pathways.
methodsA retrospective review was conducted of 1,203 patients referred to the South East Wales teledermoscopy service between September 2022 and December 2023. Referral letters and images were assessed, and cases were categorised by referral urgency. Final diagnoses and management outcomes were recorded, including discharge, minor operative procedures (MOPs), face-to-face (FTF) reviews, onward referrals, digital monitoring, or patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU).
resultsNearly half of referrals were USC, with the remainder split between urgent and routine pathways. Seborrhoeic keratosis was the most frequent diagnosis, accounting for over a quarter of cases, while basal cell carcinoma was the most common malignancy identified. Probable melanomas and squamous cell carcinomas were concentrated in the USC pathway, but were also detected in urgent and routine referrals. Management outcomes varied: most routine cases were discharged, while a greater proportion of USC referrals required MOPs or FTF review. Digital monitoring was applied selectively and often led to safe discharge or escalation to FTF review. Histological confirmation of melanoma or SCC occurred in a small but essential proportion across all pathways.
conclusionTeledermoscopy safely reduced unnecessary FTF consultations and efficiently identified high-risk lesions. Most USC referrals were ultimately benign, highlighting the need to strengthen diagnostic confidence in primary care.
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