Surgical site identification with personal digital device: A prospective pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Medical Imaging
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Accurate biopsy site identification is crucial in dermatological procedures.
• Various methods have been explored to improve biopsy site localization.
• Challenges exist in ensuring precise and reliable biopsy site marking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the accuracy of biopsy site identification using patient-provided digital photographs versus professional medical photography.
• To evaluate the efficacy of using personal digital devices for marking skin biopsy locations.

Main Methods:

• Photographs of circled skin biopsy sites were captured using patients' personal digital devices and by a professional photographer.
• Staff and a principal investigator (PI) identified biopsy sites based on these images.
• Two independent dermatologists assessed the consistency of the identified biopsy locations.

Main Results:

• Dermatologists confirmed high accuracy in biopsy site identification using patient-provided photos.
• Staff correctly identified 51 out of 53 biopsy sites, with minor discrepancies noted by one dermatologist.
• A final arbiter dermatologist confirmed the accuracy in cases of uncertainty.

Conclusions:

• Patient-taken photographs are a cost-effective and readily available tool for identifying skin biopsy sites.
• This method is compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.
• Personal digital devices offer a practical solution for accurate biopsy site localization in dermatology.