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Background Early detection of melanoma results in excision of thinner melanomas, which are associated with better prognosis. Total cutaneous photography provides a temporal comparison of lesions, which allows clinicians and patients to recognize new and subtly changing lesions.

Objectives We examined the utility of total cutaneous photography in detecting melanoma, identified the reason for biopsy of suspicious lesions and determined who detected new melanomas, the physician on follow‐up examination or the patient on self‐examination.

Patients/methods The charts of the 576 patients in the total cutaneous photography database were reviewed. Twelve patients were identified who had melanoma diagnosed with photographic assistance. Baseline and prebiopsy photographs, dermatology clinic notes (115 patient visits) and pathology reports for each biopsied lesion …