Skin Self-Photography for Dysplastic Nevus Monitoring Is Associated with a Decrease in the Number of Biopsies at Follow-Up: A Retrospective Analytical Study

The retrospective analytical study evaluated the effectiveness of skin self-photography (SSP) in managing dysplastic nevi and its impact on the number of biopsies performed at a 6-month follow-up visit. The study included 55 patients with a history of multiple dysplastic nevi. It was found that 34.5% of patients complied with the recommendation to perform SSP. A statistically significant reduction in the number of biopsies was observed in the SSP-compliant group compared to the noncompliant group, with an odds ratio of 0.49, indicating about a 50% reduction in biopsies. The study concluded that SSP, despite its limitations, is associated with a marked decrease in the number of subsequent biopsies, which could influence discussions with third-party payers about the need for coverage of professionally performed total body skin photography (TBSP), potentially leading to earlier detection and improved management of melanoma. However, the study acknowledged limitations such as its sample size, community-based population, potential confounding factors, and its retrospective design.