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Objective To evaluate the use, diagnostic agreement, and clinical resolution associated with the Teleinterconsultation in Stomatology application in Paraíba, Brazil, a teledentistry tool developed to support the diagnosis of oral lesions, including oral cancer. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a convenience sample of dentists registered in the application between July 2021 and October 2023. Of the 386 registered dentists, 249 submitted clinical cases with complete and verifiable information and were included in the analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize professional and case characteristics. Diagnostic agreement was assessed by comparing the initial diagnostic hypothesis recorded by the reporting dentist with that proposed by the consultant. Case management across primary, secondary, and tertiary care levels was also documented. Results Most registered dentists worked in primary care (60.1%), and 39.9% were general practitioners. Patients were predominantly female (59.1%); the palate was the most frequent lesion site (16.9%); and reactive lesions were the most common consultant hypothesis (26.1%). Agreement between the reporting dentist and the consultant was observed in 149 cases (59.8%). Forty-eight cases (19.3%) could not be assessed due to missing or insufficient data. Among the 37 suspected malignant cases, 21 (58.3%) were confirmed as malignant neoplasms. Case management occurred mainly in secondary care, but 34.6% of cases were managed in primary care. Conclusions The application appears to be a useful decision-support tool for oral lesion assessment, particularly in primary care. It supported the recognition and referral of suspected malignant lesions and may help optimize care pathways within the Brazilian Unified Health System. Improvements in data completeness, image quality, and follow-up are needed to strengthen its clinical impact.
Andrade et al. (Fri,) studied this question.