Information Theory in the Diagnosis of Dermatological Disorders

At the heart of clinical decision-making in arriving at a diagnosis lies the interpretation of signals, or information, to yield a probable output, i.e., diagnosis. This transmission of information requires certain communication channels, which help relay information from one step to the next. The human body system is complex and diverse, and dermatological disorders range from easy-to-diagnose (simple system) to highly challenging (complex system). While we tend to believe that a myriad of complex types of information makes the process of getting to the diagnosis easier, we wish to draw upon the observation that in complicated and complex systems, the amount of information is higher, and so is the measure of uncertainty and entropy. This means the probability of diagnostic accuracy is lowered with higher complexity, which presents with increased information. Information overload may overwhelm the dermatologist’s communication system and lower the likelihood of a correct diagnosis. Having a grasp on information theory may have the potential to optimize medical decision-making, and we wish to introduce its application in the clinical diagnosis of dermatological disorders.