Progress in Australian teledermatology.

Because of their remoteness, the majority of rural towns in Australia are disadvantaged in terms of access to dermatological services. Telemedicine offers one solution. Since the mid-1990s, Australian dermatologists have experimented with telemedicine as an adjunct to clinical practice. The technical viability of teledermatology was first demonstrated in 1997. In 1999, the accuracy and reliability of teledermatology were demonstrated in a real-life urban setting. In 2001, Broken Hill (in western New South Wales), a location remote from dermatology services, served as a trial site for the institution of teledermatology as the primary method of accessing dermatological services. High patient and general practitioner acceptability and positive medical outcomes were demonstrated, but the study also revealed unexpected barriers and pitfalls in the effective operation of rural teledermatology.

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus associated with hepatocellular carcinoma.

A 63-year-old man with a 4-year history of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma secondary to chronic hepatitis B developed a rash affecting his arms, legs, thorax and back. Both clinical and histological examination suggested a diagnosis of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE). The association of SCLE and hepatocellular carcinoma has not previously been reported. The SCLE persisted without remission and was still present at his death from metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma 3 months later. We also review other reported cases of SCLE as paraneoplastic dermatoses and apply McLean's criteria for paraneoplastic dermatosis.

Accuracy and reliability of store-and-forward teledermatology: preliminary results from the St George Teledermatology Project.

Teledermatology is the practice of dermatology across distances (and time) and involves the transfer of electronic information. To be effective and safe, the teledermatology process needs to demonstrate an acceptable level of accuracy and reliability. Accuracy is reflected by the degree of concordance (agreement) between the teledermatology and face-to-face diagnoses. Reliability is dependent on how consistently a set of results can be reproduced across different operators. Mean concordance (primary diagnoses) achieved by four dermatologists studying 53 store-and-forward diagnostic cases, originating from 49 referred patients, was 79% (range 73-85%). When the differential diagnoses were taken into account, the variation across individual dermatologists narrowed further, with a mean of 86% (range 83-89%). In contrast, the mean general practitioner (GP; n=11) concordance (GP face-to-face vs reference dermatologist store-and-forward diagnoses) was 49%. An interim review of all 49 teledermatology patients showed no adverse outcome at the end of 3 months. The ability to request face-to-face visits by dermatologists, combined with GPs maintaining primary care of the referred patient, serve as additional safeguards for patients using a telemedicine system. Our results indicate that teledermatology management of referred skin complaints is both accurate and reliable.

Australian teledermatology: the patient, the doctor and their government.

Telemedicine is an emerging technology within Australia. We review the historical development of telemedicine and discuss the clinical and non-clinical issues surrounding its practice in this country. Teledermatology is one application of telemedicine. We discuss the potential impact of teledermatology on patients, doctors and third parties such as government. So far, teledermatology has received little attention from Australian dermatologists. By contrast, the Government and other organizations are showing keen interest in establishing infrastructure within this country. We believe it is time for dermatologists to become more involved in the practice and politics of telemedicine within Australia.

Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis: a clinical study.

Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis is an autosomal dominant condition that requires sun exposure for full expression. It affects only sun-exposed areas, with relative sparing of the face. In sun-damaged skin of Australians disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis is commonly mistaken for solar keratosis. Twenty-nine subjects with disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis were involved in an extensive questionnaire and clinical study. The distribution of lesions was charted on all subjects, with a mean count of 268 lesions per subject. We found no evidence that skin cancer had arisen in disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis lesions. A review of the etiologic and clinical features of disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis also is presented.

Linear porokeratosis in two families with disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis.

Two case reports of linear porokeratosis occurring in individuals or families with disseminated, superficial, actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) are presented. Linear porokeratosis and DSAP may be different expressions of one dominantly inherited condition. We reviewed the clinical features of linear porokeratosis and its association with other forms of porokeratosis. The linear form has a potential for carcinomatous change.