Skin Cancer Diagnosis by Lesion, Physician, and Examination Type

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Jennifer Y. Chen, MD; Kristen Fernandez, BS; Raj P. Fadadu, MD, MS; et al

Importance  Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the US; accurate detection can minimize morbidity and mortality.

Objective  To assess the accuracy of skin cancer diagnosis by lesion type, physician specialty and experience, and physical examination method.

Data Sources  PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.

Study Selection  Cross-sectional and case-control studies, randomized clinical trials, and nonrandomized controlled trials that used dermatologists or primary care physicians (PCPs) to examine keratinocytic and/or melanocytic skin lesions were included.

Data Extraction and Synthesis  Search terms, study objectives, and protocol methods were defined before study initiation. Data extraction was performed by a reviewer, with verification by a second reviewer. A mixed-effects model was used in the data analysis. Data analyses were performed from May 2022 to December 2023.

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