Difference between real and perceived power of dermoscopical methods for detection of malignant melanoma.

Clear proceedings in detection of malignant melanoma and monitoring of melanocytic nevi (MN) have been achieved by dermoscopy in recent years: sensitivity to 95% is possible for experts. Does patients' confidence in methods for detection of malignant melanoma most important for adherence in follow-up reflect this diagnostic power? A self-administered survey was performed in 210 consecutive patients at 13 private dermatological practices and the department of Dermatology of the University of Regensburg. Confidence was assessed by a 5-step ordinal scale ranging from 1 to 5 (higher values indicate higher confidence) and willingness-to-pay (wtp) as health-economic instrument for naked-eye inspection (NEI), handheld dermoscopy (HHD), digital dermoscopy (DD), and teledermoscopy (TD); additional, wtp for a hypothetical method promising 100% accuracy.