Mole dermoscopy - Mole examination - Computer‐assisted diagnostic

Dermoscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic method, which gives an insight into the structure of the various changes and growths on the skin, and under the skin’s surface that are invisible with the naked eye. MoleMax device for dermoscopy is designed to examine your skin, and all skin changes.

Dermoscopy is

During dermoscopy At Diva Clinic, experts are using imaging device (dermoscope) with a polarized light source and an optical lens system – the MoleMax device, which allows precise mole mapping.

Pigment changes, and all other skin conditions can be investigated with the MoleMax device. Everything that is invisible to the naked eye becomes detectable:

MoleMax creates a high-quality, three-dimensional image stored in the clinic’s database – individually for each patient. Thanks to that, experts of dermatology at “Diva” Clinic can easly compare and monitor changes in your skin that may occur in time. Digital dermoscopy is essential to monitor any pigment lesion. With regular check-ups, (especially individuals with large number of moles), the smallest changes that occur can be detected and eliminated on time.

Accurate diagnosis is crucial in the prevention of cancer.

Why is regular dermoscopic examination important?

It is estimated that the reliability of the clinical examination of mole (medical examination with the naked eye) is about 65%. Dermoscopic examination of the mole raises diagnostic accuracy up to 98% and therefore plays an important role in the early detection of melanoma and other skin tumors.

Reliably differentiate benign from malignant changes

With clinical examination there is almost no insight into the form and structure of blood vessels. It is often crucial to differentiate benign from malignant changes,to determinate whether a change belongs to the group of benign changes (moles, fibroma, viral warts) or to the group of malignant changes (melanoma, basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma) which require urgent and radical treatment.

Which changes can be diagnosed with a dermoscopy?

In addition to reliably distinguishing benign from malignant changes, dermoscopy enables early detection of melanoma and mole changes.

Melanoma – A skin cancer with a high mortality rate, if diagnosed in late stages. Early stage diagnostics are crucial for patients, which was not possible before dermoscopic appliances. For example, in Western Europe, about 80% of melanomas are detected at an early stage by dermoscopic examination, which significantly increases the chances of curing. If there is a suspicion of melanoma after dermoscopy, first step is to remove the skin change, and then the final diagnosis is made after histopathology.

Mole– self-examination of the moles is recommended every 3 months, and dermoscopy on dermatologist’s recommendation, due to the increasing frequency of skin tumors.

Special caution for risk groups

Dermoscopy with MoleMax device is extremely important for all patients to notice on time any changes in moles, especially for high risk groups of patients, such are:

• patients with more than 50 moles,
• patients with dysplastic or atypical moles,
• patients over 50, who have severe skin damage caused by the sun,
• patients who are much more exposed to the sun, patients with risky professions, all those who work outdoors – farmers, sailors and others,
• patients withhereditary skin cancer or melanoma,

because this method allows the entire skin surface to be inspected and monitored every 3, 6 or 12 months, according to the need and dynamics determined by the dermatologist.

Patients belonging to one of these high-risk groups should have a dermoscopic examination regularly.

Risk factors for skin cancers:

• hereditary factor,
• overexposure to the sun and UV rays in tanning booth,
• people with blond or red-brown hair,
• large number of moles,
• fair skin and freckles.

Which moles should be examined with a dermoscope?

If you notice any mole changes, a dermoscopy is required. If the mole:

• grows rapidly,
• changes shape (asymmetry occurs),
• changes color,
• changes edges (they become frayed and irregular),
• gets more different colors,
• rises above skin level over time …

Which other moles need dermoscopic monitoring?

Moles which have atypical appearance, even when there is no suspicion of melanoma. They are also monitored every 3, 6 or 12 months, after which the dermoscopic images are compared. After that, experts in dermatology decide are they going to be removed and tested.

Dermoscopy is also recommended for the monitoring of congenital moles, especially if their diameter is longer than 10 centimeters.

Dermoscopic mole map

An examination of all moles on the body with their marking and recording is known as dermoscopic map (mole mapping). Some time after the first examination, which is determined by a dermatologist, new mole mapping is done to be compared with the previous ones. This way, all moles are monitored, and whether and what changes have occurred.

The dermoscopic map is recommended for everybody, especially those belonging to risk groups.

Dermoscopy before intervention – dermatologist’s advice

It is recommended that a dermoscopy should be done at least once a year, due to increasing number of tumors. Warts, moles and other skin lesions can represent potential malignant cancers, so dermoscopy with MoleMax device is highly recommended. In that case, the doctor will be able to make a decision on time – does the mole needs to be removed, and which technique of removal will be appropriate.

What are the methods of mole and skin lesions removal?

Depending on the type and size of the skin lesions and moles, they can be removed by classic surgical excision or by radio-wave surgery, with mandatory histopathological verification.