Digital Dermatoscopy.

Spain, April of 2013.- digital dermatoscopy is a technique that allows to monitor the evolution of atypical moles and opens a new path in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma, whose incidence has increased dramatically in recent decades. Modern digital dermatoscopy teams allow us to obtain and archive high quality panoramic images and high definition images.

Rule of the ABCD-­‐E for the diagnosis of melanoma

Traditionally the dermatologists have given patients some basic recommendations to help detect a possible melanoma (rule ABCD-­‐E):

-A: the lunar asymmetry. Moles tend to be rounded and symmetrical, melanomas tend to be skewed.

-B: edges irregular. Moles have regular edges and in the majority of melanomas are irregular.

-C: Color. It tends to be homogeneous in moles, while melanomas usually look different colors and shades.

-D: Diameter of moles. Do not usually exceed 6 mm, while melanomas tend to have a size greater.

-E: evolution. The majority of benign moles are stable or change without winning atypia. Melanomas tend to be unstable and as they grow and change they acquire more atypical characters (greater asymmetry, more irregular edges and coloration).

Limitations of the rule ABCD-­‐E

Some benign atypical moles are rule ABCD (low specificity). Fortunately, we do not usually meet the E ”, do not change, and if they do not win atypia. On the other hand, some emerging melanomas can not meet the ABCD rule, and this is particularly frequent in Nodular melanomas, the more aggressive form of melanoma (little sensitivity for this type of melanoma). However, these melanomas do tend to meet the and ”. All of this leads us to put the emphasis on the importance of the and ”, in relation to the evolution and changes in moles. Therefore, in patients with many moles, its follow-up with photographic controls is essential.

Digital Dermatoscopy

Today, Dermatology has a new tool for the early detection of melanoma, the digital dermatoscopy (DD). Early diagnosis of melanoma is very important because it remains the best guarantee that further treatment is effective and able to cure the patient. DD can also contribute to the prevention of melanoma, when this arises about a mole, atypical and unstable. This technique non invasive is able to reveal structural data in not patents moles at a glance, and monitor its evolution. The modern equipment of digital dermoscopy allow archiving panoramic images of high quality where practically all of the moles of the patient are recorded and dermatoscopy of more relevant and/or atypical moles. This Lunar mapping allows the dermatologist register of each lunar atypical structural ID on a computer. In this way, on subsequent visits, comparing current and previous images to see if there are new moles with atypia high from the beginning or unstable moles who win atypia.

These are some advantages with dermatoscopy digital: tracking

-Facilitates the detection of new moles and allows you to directly assess your degree of atypia, which facilitates the detection of some very early melanoma when even they seem not to melanoma at a glance.

-It facilitates the detection of unstable moles that earn atypia, until this process is evident at a glance. In this way, some very early melanomas (early diagnosis) are detected and you can avoid the transformation of many unstable atypical moles in melanoma (primary prevention).

-With this technology, unnecessary biopsies and surgeries are avoided. There are spots showing clinically atypia and dubious appearance at first glance, but with digital dermatoscopy is showing stable and benign, and therefore not requiring removal.

-It is able to distinguish skin tumors such as melanoma and Epithelioma basal cell of other benign Seborrheic Keratosis and angiomas lesions, which also avoids unnecessary eradications.

International Dermatology clinic

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