International Skin Imaging Collaboration-Designated Diagnoses (ISIC-DX): Consensus terminology for lesion diagnostic labeling

Alon Scope, Konstantinos Liopyris, Jochen Weber, Raymond L. Barnhill, Ralph P. Braun, Clara N. Curiel-Lewandrowski, David E. Elder, Gerardo Ferrara, Jane M. Grant-Kels, Thiago Jeunon, Aimilios Lallas, Jennifer Y. Lin, Michael A. Marchetti, Ashfaq A. Marghoob, Cristian Navarrete-Dechent, Giovanni Pellacani, Hans Peter Soyer, Alexander Stratigos, Luc Thomas, Harald KittlerVeronica Rotemberg, Allan C. Halpern

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: A common terminology for diagnosis is critically important for clinical communication, education, research and artificial intelligence. Prevailing lexicons are limited in fully representing skin neoplasms. Objectives: To achieve expert consensus on diagnostic terms for skin neoplasms and their hierarchical mapping. Methods: Diagnostic terms were extracted from textbooks, publications and extant diagnostic codes. Terms were hierarchically mapped to super-categories (e.g. ‘benign’) and cellular/tissue-differentiation categories (e.g. ‘melanocytic’), and appended with pertinent-modifiers and synonyms. These terms were evaluated using a modified-Delphi consensus approach. Experts from the International-Skin-Imaging-Collaboration (ISIC) were surveyed on agreement with terms and their hierarchical mapping; they could suggest modifying, deleting or adding terms. Consensus threshold was >75% for the initial rounds and >50% for the final round. Results: Eighteen experts completed all Delphi rounds. Of 379 terms, 356 (94%) reached consensus in round one. Eleven of 226 (5%) benign-category terms, 6/140 (4%) malignant-category terms and 6/13 (46%) indeterminate-category terms did not reach initial agreement. Following three rounds, final consensus consisted of 362 terms mapped to 3 super-categories and 41 cellular/tissue-differentiation categories. Conclusions: We have created, agreed upon, and made public a taxonomy for skin neoplasms and their hierarchical mapping. Further study will be needed to evaluate the utility and completeness of the lexicon.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)117-125
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
Volume39
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2025
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Dermatology
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'International Skin Imaging Collaboration-Designated Diagnoses (ISIC-DX): Consensus terminology for lesion diagnostic labeling'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this