Page 3 - Noninvasive Diagnostic Techniques for the Detection of Skin Cancers

This report is based on research conducted by the Tufts University Evidence-based Practice
Center (EPC) under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ),
Rockville, MD (Contract No. 290-2007-10055-1). The findings and conclusions in this document
are those of the author(s), who are responsible for its contents; the findings and conclusions do
not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. Therefore, no statement in this report should be
construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.

The information in this report is intended to help health care decisionmakers—patients and
clinicians, health system leaders, and policymakers, among others—make well-informed
decisions and thereby improve the quality of health care services. This report is not intended to
be a substitute for the application of clinical judgment. Anyone who makes decisions concerning
the provision of clinical care should consider this report in the same way as any medical
reference and in conjunction with all other pertinent information, i.e., in the context of available
resources and circumstances presented by individual patients.

This report may be used, in whole or in part, as the basis for development of clinical practice
guidelines and other quality enhancement tools, or as a basis for reimbursement and coverage
policies. AHRQ or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services endorsement of such
derivative products may not be stated or implied.

This document is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without permission except
those copyrighted materials that are clearly noted in the document. Further reproduction of those
copyrighted materials is prohibited without the specific permission of copyright holders.

Persons using assistive technology may not be able to fully access information in this report. For
assistance contact EffectiveHealthCare@ahrq.hhs.gov.

None of the investigators has any affiliations or financial involvement that conflicts with the
material presented in this report.

Suggested citation: Parsons SK, Chan JA, Yu WW, Obadan N, Ratichek SJ, Lee J, Sen S, Ip S.
Noninvasive Diagnostic Techniques for the Detection of Skin Cancers. Technical Brief No. 11.
(Prepared by the Tufts University Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-2007-
1055-1.) AHRQ Publication No. 11-EHC085-EF. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality. September 2011. Available at:
www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/reports/final.cfm.

ii