title: A prospective comparison of spectrophotometric intracutaneous analysis to clinical judgment in the diagnosis of nonmelanoma skin cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research indicates that spectrophotometric intracutaneous analysis (SIAscopy) may be a useful adjunct in nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) diagnosis. A study was performed to prospectively assess the accuracy of NMSC diagnosis by the SIAscope as compared with a clinician.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prior to excision, 323 consecutive lesions were examined and diagnosed by a clinician. SIAgraphs were then taken of the lesions and examined blindly at a later date. Diagnostic accuracy for the clinician and SIAscope was compared between the clinician and SIAscope and to histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for clinical diagnoses were 95.6%, 75.8%, 0.79, and 0.95, respectively. Results for SIA diagnoses were 97.5%, 86.7%, 0.88, and 0.97. Statistical comparison revealed comparable sensitivities for the 2 groups but significantly better specificity for the SIAscope at the 95% confidence level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that the SIAscope may be useful in NMSC diagnosis, with accuracies comparable to a clinician.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, England. contact@hamidtehrani.com
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tehrani
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walls
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Symon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.forename: Elaine M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sassoon
authors.forename: Per N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D046169:Dermoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009506:Nevus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013053:Spectrophotometry