Impact of clinical photographs on the accuracy and confidence in the histopathological diagnosis of mycosis fungoides
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The histopathological diagnosis of MF is challenging, and there is significant overlap with benign inflammatory processes. Clinical features may be relevant in the assessment of skin biopsies. METHODS: We provided photomicrographs to board-certified dermatopathologists and one hematopathologist with and without accompanying clinical photographs and assessed accuracy and confidence in diagnosing MF. RESULTS: We found that access to clinical photographs improved diagnostic accuracy in both MF and non-MF (distractors); the degree of improvement was significantly higher in the non-MF/distractor category. Across all categories, diagnostic confidence level was higher when clinical images were available. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that clinical images are useful in making an accurate diagnosis of MF, and may be particularly helpful in ruling it out when an inflammatory disorder is clinically suspected.
Source: Journal of Cutaneous Pathology
DOI: 10.1111/cup.13938
Language: English
Subfield: Dermatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W3111211057