It has been demonstrated that dermoscopic monitoring of melanocytic lesions allows for the recognition of melanoma in early stages while minimizing the excision of benign lesions. However, it is still pending to determine the real impact of digital follow-up in the clinical management of pigmented lesions. To assess the evidence of follow-up of melanocytic skin lesions with digital dermoscopy in the management of individuals at risk for melanoma by performing a meta-analysis. Medline database was screened, no limits in terms of date or language were applied. Original studies were selected when the following criteria were met: performed in clinical setting with clinical and dermoscopic evaluation made by physicians, data regarding population characteristics included, follow-up strategy used described. Fourteen of 145 retrieved references were retained. Included studies account for a total of 5787 patients (mean 445 per study) and 52,739 lesions monitored (mean per study 4057; range 272-11,396) with a mean of 12 lesions monitored per patient; a total of 4388 lesions (8.3%) were excised. The mean length of follow-up was 30 months. A mean of <1 lesion was excised per patient along the surveillance period. The number needed to monitor (NNM) ranged from 31 to 1008 (mean: 348) among eligible studies. For every additional month of monitoring, 1additional melanoma was detected. Using digital dermoscopy follow-up, the proportion of in situ melanoma and thin melanomas are higher than expected in general population. Chances to detect a melanoma during surveillance increase as the length of follow-up extends.

Background:Early recognition is the most important intervention to improve melanoma prognosis.Objective:To report the value of dermoscopy and digital dermoscopy in the clinical diagnosis of malignant melanoma (MM).Methods:Retrospective analysis of 99 consecutive primary MMs diagnosed between 2010 and 2013. The MMs were divided into 3 groups: 1) the MM was the reason for consultation (MMC), 2) the MM was detected during routine control of nevi (MMRC), and 3) the MM was detected due to changes observed during digital dermoscopy follow-up (MMDFU). Clinical, dermoscopic and histologic features were assessed.Results:A total of 99 MMs were diagnosed in 89 patients (55% male) with a mean age of 50.8 (18-93) years. Of all the MMs, 35 were the reason for patient consultation (MMC), 52 were detected during routine control of nevi (MMRC) and 12 were diagnosed due to changes observed with digital dermoscopy (MMDFU). On clinical examination, 74.2 % of MMC met the 4 ABCD criteria, while only 30.7 % of MMRC and 8.3 % of MMDFU. Most MMC were correctly classified as malignant according to dermoscopy, but 44.2% of MMRC and only 16.7% of MMDFU. 22.9% of MMC, 50% of MMRC and 58.3% of MMDFU were in situ. Mean Breslow thickness was significantly lower in the MMDFU group (0.52 mm) than in the MMRC and MMDFU groups (0.77 and 1.43 mm respectively).Conclusions:The use of dermoscopy and digital dermoscopy allows the detection of MMs in early stages, even in the absence of specific criteria for malignancy.

Students' assessment of teaching materials is a source of data to assess the quality of teaching. The opinions of the students of Biostatistics and Veterinary Medicine of the National University Entre Ríos (UNER) regarding the didactic material in the virtual world were investigated. The 82 students enrolled in the virtual classroom were surveyed. Students' evaluations of the teaching material uploaded to the virtual classroom were analyzed through a survey that consisted of four blocks of closed questions on format, design, content and general aspects. The students recognized the usefulness and practicality of the teaching material used by the teachers. This challenge is innovative as it is a starting point to promote other types of teaching. La valoración de los alumnos de los materiales didácticos constituye una fuente de datos para evaluar la calidad de la enseñanza. Se indagaron las opiniones de los alumnos de Bioestadística y de Medicina Veterinaria de la Universidad Nacional Entre Ríos (UNER) respecto del material didáctico en la virtualidad. Se encuestó a los 82 alumnos inscriptos en el aula virtual. Se analizaron las valoraciones de los alumnos respecto del material didáctico subido al aula virtual a través de una encuesta que constó de cuatro bloques de preguntas cerradas sobre Formato, Diseño, Contenido y Aspectos generales. Los alumnos reconocieron la utilidad y practicidad del material didáctico utilizado por los docentes. Este desafío es innovador ya que es un punto de partida para promover otro tipo de enseñanza.