SDDI – Sequential digital dermoscopy imaging benefits

The real benefit of your skin cancer check being done properly

 

Last blog post we wrote about how to tell if your skin cancer check was being done properly. And we promised to share some of the added sequential digital dermoscopy imaging or SDDI benefits that result. 

Those of you who’ve visited our clinics before will know that we’re pretty excited by our technology. This is why.

SDDI leads to more accurate diagnosis 

Analysis done in Australia of a number of studies (called a meta-analysis) showed that skin cancer checks done with a dermatoscope (which can magnify spots on your skin up to 120x) significantly improves the likelihood of an accurate diagnosis especially for melanoma.
The likelihood of correct diagnosis of true melanoma doubled with using SDDI (72%) vs those using the naked eye (38%).

SDDI leads to less unnecessary surgery

Further studies showed that patients whose skin had been checked using dermoscopy underwent 64% less surgical removal of what later turned out to be a benign spot for which excision was unnecessary. And as a patient, I’m sure you’d agree that’s a big win.

With SDDI there’s a greater likelihood of finding early changes

And in another study, 34% of melanomas were diagnosed just by using the changes detected by SDDI. In other words, melanoma cancers were found just by looking at how a spot looked on the last picture and how it looked at the next picture taken 3, 6 or 12 months later. Now given melanomas can start at the size of a pinhead, without SDDI, it would be practically impossible to pick up with the naked eye. 

SDDI leads to better patient outcomes

In Australia, we Aussies are at high risk of melanoma.Hence the combination of dermoscopy, SDDI and total body photography (TBP) allowed early detection of melanoma. It also included early detection of rapidly growing nodular melanoma – the most dangerous type of melanoma. 5 of 6 found were less than 1mm in thickness. That meant the patients were likely to have a good prognosis. And we’re sure you’d agree that’s a massive win for both the patient and their treating Dr.

What research are you using?

Now we know the internet is full of ‘dodgy’ research. So in case you’re wondering, this information comes from clinical trials published in two very well respected peer-reviewed medical journals;

• The British Journal of Dermatology and
• Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)

And so has some very serious scientific weight behind it.

But it’s not just about the technology

As much as we love our technology, we love looking after patients more. For us it’s also about providing a real level of care and taking real interest in our patients. That’s why a thorough skin check can take up to 45 minutes. 

A good skin cancer check doctor should also ask you questions about your;

• Family history i.e. is there any history of skin cancer or other cancers
• Your sun exposure from an early age or current situation – how badly burned did you get as a child or a teen\
• Then all spots or moles should be examined.

And all of that takes time. But it could be the most important 45 minutes of your life.

So what does this mean for you?

It means that you would be wise to go to go to a clinic that;

• uses the best technology available – not to someone who uses either their naked eyes or a mere magnification lamp (which only magnifies up to 15x)
• takes a photo of any spots you have now and compares those photos with the ones taken next time, just to double check for changes.
• have Doctors that have at least completed/achieved an advanced Diploma or Certificate for Skin Cancer Medicine
• has decades of experience in checking for, diagnosing and treating skin cancer

It also means that if you choose come to either NBSCC or SCSCC, your skin cancer check will be conducted using some of the finest technology available. That in turn gives you the one of the most thorough skin cancer checks currently possible.

So if you have a spot or mole that you’re concerned about and you want to make sure that your skin is being checked using the best diagnostic tools available, you can call us on 9999 0336 (Northern Beaches clinic) or 9223 1608 (Sydney City clinic) or you can pop your details in the form below and we’ll get back to you shortly with our next available appointment.