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Dermoscopy for Melanoma

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Technology in Practical Dermatology

Abstract

Dermoscopy improves diagnostic sensitivity for melanoma diagnosis compared to clinical examination alone. The dermoscopic features characterizing non-glabrous skin melanoma are atypical network, irregular dots and/or globules, regression structures, blue-whitish veil, peripheral streaks, irregular blotches, atypical vascular structures, negative network, shiny white lines and brown peripheral structureless areas. Facial melanoma shows a different set of dermoscopic structures such as hyperpigmented asymmetric follicular openings, annular-granular pattern, rhomboidal structures and obliterated follicular openings. In acral melanoma, the two main patterns are the parallel ridge pattern and irregular diffuse pigmentation. Pigmented nail-unit melanoma is characterized by the presence of a brown/black background and by longitudinal lines within the band with irregular thickness, spacing, parallelism, and colour; sometimes a periungual spread of pigment called the Hutchinson sign is present. Nodular melanoma often lacks the classic melanoma-specific criteria; nevertheless, the simultaneous presence of blue and black areas involving at least 10% of the surface is strongly suspected for a malignant lesion. Amelanotic and hypomelanotic melanoma are relatively rare and featureless, and the most useful dermoscopic criteria are the presence of atypical vascular pattern and a milky red colour.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Alessandro Di Stefani & Luigi Cornacchia

  2. Institute of Dermatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    Alessandro Di Stefani & Luigi Cornacchia

Authors
  1. Alessandro Di Stefani
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  2. Luigi Cornacchia
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dermatology Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuro-Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Michele Fimiani

  2. Dermatology Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuro-Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Pietro Rubegni

  3. Dermatology Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuro-Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Elisa Cinotti

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Di Stefani, A., Cornacchia, L. (2020). Dermoscopy for Melanoma. In: Fimiani, M., Rubegni, P., Cinotti, E. (eds) Technology in Practical Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45351-0_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45351-0_3

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