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The recent study by Eads et al¹ determined a 6.4% error rate in the clinical differential diagnosis of seborrheic keratosis vs malignancy. During the 30-month period beginning April 1, 1995, and ending September 30, 1997, my laboratory processed approximately 18000 specimens of all types. Of this number, 390 specimens were submitted by dermatologists with a clinical diagnosis of seborrheic keratosis. Among these, only 8 (2.03%) were diagnosed histologically as malignant and none were malignant melanomas. This rate (2.03%) is less than the 6.4% rate reported by Eads et al.¹

Of interest was the examination of an additional 493 specimens submitted with clinical diagnoses other than seborrheic keratosis, but which yielded a histological diagnosis of seborrheic keratosis. Of these, 415 were from dermatologists and 78 were from nondermatologists. The following specialties were represented among these 78: general surgery, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, podiatry, plastic surgery, family practice, and gynecology. Among the 415 specimens . . . [Full Text of this Article]