The Use of Teledermatology for Skin Cancer Referrals: A Retrospective Study in a Single Tertiary Centre

Teledermatology utilises telecommunications technology to deliver dermatological care remotely, incorporating live video consultations, store-and-forward systems, and hybrid approaches. It is particularly valuable in underserved or remote areas with limited access to dermatologists. Reported benefits include reduced face-to-face consultations for benign lesions, leading to increased capacity for severe cases, improved access for rural patients, and enhanced satisfaction among clinicians and patients. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of teledermatology, integrating it into the National Health Service (NHS) framework for managing referrals and ensuring continuity of care. This study examines the outcomes of two-week wait referrals for suspected skin cancer, focusing on diagnostic concordance between teledermatology and histopathology.

The study was conducted at Addenbrooke's Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals, via a retrospective review of patient records from November 2022 to May 2023. Inclusion criteria were all patients referred by their general practitioner (GP) under the two-week wait for suspected skin cancer pathway. Data collected included patient demographics, waiting times, clinical and histological diagnoses, and patient re-referrals for the same problem. The primary objective was to assess diagnostic concordance between the clinical diagnosis from teledermatology and histopathology. Secondary objectives included accuracy of lesion site description, patient waiting times, and computed time savings from the use of teledermatology.

The study covered 71 patients (34 males, 37 females) aged 19-87 years (mean: 59.63), with Fitzpatrick skin I-III predominating. A total of 110 individual lesions were assessed, and 46 required surgical management. Clinical and histological concordance was 62%, with 100% accuracy for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and melanoma. The service saved 10 hours of consultant time and reduced the need for 62 initial face-to-face consultations. Lesion site documentation had a 73% correlation between GPs and dermatologists. Diagnoses varied widely between GPs and dermatologists, with a 31% concordance.

Our study shows that teledermatology is a safe and effective method for managing two-week wait referrals for suspected skin cancer, reducing footfall, and saving time and costs for both clinicians and patients. While there are limitations, the usage of teledermatology allows increasingly limited capacity for face-to-face consultations to be reserved for high-risk patients. Further studies in different regions should explore teledermatology's utility across diverse demographics, particularly to address healthcare disparities for those with darker skin tones.