Dermoscopy (or dermatoscopy) is a non-invasive imaging technique used to examine skin lesions, particularly for diagnosing melanomas and other skin cancers. It involves using a dermatoscope, a handheld device that combines magnification with polarized or non-polarized light, allowing visualization of skin structures not visible to the naked eye.

How Dermoscopy Works

The dermatoscope illuminates and magnifies the skin's surface, reducing surface reflection and providing a clear view of subsurface structures, like pigment networks, vascular patterns, and follicular openings. The device may use contact (requiring a liquid interface) or non-contact polarized light to illuminate skin layers. This method improves visualization of:

Pigment distribution and networks

Vascular structures

Follicular openings

Colours and patterns within lesions

Diagnostic Value

Dermoscopy enhances diagnostic accuracy for dermatologists and GPs, especially when differentiating between benign lesions and malignant melanomas. Studies show dermoscopy improves melanoma detection by revealing specific patterns and colours associated with malignancy, like asymmetry, blue-gray veils, and irregular networks can provide examples of common dermoscopic patterns or further details on how it’s applied at Blackwater.

References:

Kittler, H., et al. "Diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy." Lancet Oncology, 2002.

Argenziano, G., et al. "Dermoscopy improves the detection of melanoma." Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2008.

Dr Geranmayeh