Comparison of two dermoscopic techniques in the melanoma diagnosis: 3-point checklist and 7-point checklist

Background and Design: Our purpose was to compare the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of the 7-point and 3-point checklist, on a series of dermoscopic images of melanoma lesions diagnosed as histopathologically. Material and Method: Fourty-seven preoperative dermoscopic photographs of histopathologically proven melanoma lesions were studied retroscopically. Each lesion was assessed using the 7-point and the 3-point checklist. Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows 10.0, descriptive statistical analyses and screening tests were performed. Results: The 3-point checklist gave a sensitivity of %91,5 compared with the %89,4 sensitivity of the 7-point checklist. Conclusion: Both the 7-point checklist and the 3-point checklist can be easily learned and easily applied. The 7-point checklist, based on pattern analysis, provides more detailed analysis especially for the thin melanomas. The 3-point checklist, with its higher sensitivity, can allow to obtain higher diagnostic accuracy values. (Turkderm 2008; 42: 45-50)