Lack of compliance: a challenge for digital dermoscopy follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Digital dermoscopy is the gold standard follow-up method for patients with high risk for developing cutaneous malignant melanoma. By comparing the same lesion at different moments, it allows early detection of subtle changes that could suggest the diagnosis of melanoma. Thus, it is clear that the test must be repeated after a period of time, according to time intervals determined by the evaluator.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate adherence of patients to follow-up examinations using digital dermoscopy.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 36 patients who underwent digital dermoscopic examination and total-body photography in a private medical center between September 2010 and January 2013.


RESULTS
Only 25% of the patients returned for followup evaluations.


CONCLUSIONS
Low adherence to digital dermoscopy follow-up could compromise the efficacy of this valuable method. This lack of adherence represents a challenge for the evaluator.
Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Guilherme Augusto
GA
Gadens
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D046169:Dermoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009506:Nevus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult