Effect of Prior Diagnoses on Dermatopathologists' Interpretations of Melanocytic Lesions: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Medical second opinions are common, although little is known about the best processes for obtaining them. This study assesses whether knowledge of a prior physician's diagnosis influences consulting physicians' diagnoses.

Objective

To measure the extent to which dermatopathologists' diagnoses are influenced by prior diagnostic information from another dermatopathologist.

Design, setting, and participants

Dermatopathologists were randomly assigned to interpret 1 slide set of 18 melanocytic skin biopsy specimens in 2 phases (5 slide sets totaling 90 cases). Phase 1 interpretations were conducted without prior diagnostic information. After a washout period of 12 or more months, dermatopathologists' phase 2 interpretations were conducted with their identical sl

SUBMITTER: Elmore JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9366662 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature