Publications by authors named "Alon Scope"
Baseline dermoscopic patterns predict long-term changes in nevus diameter and in dermoscopic features.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol
December 2024
Background: When monitoring melanocytic neoplasms, the pattern of change may distinguish nevi from melanoma. Anticipating the growth dynamics of nevi based on their dermoscopic pattern is important to make this distinction.
Objective: The primary aim was to examine the association between nevus dermoscopic pattern at baseline and diameter change during long-term monitoring.
Background: A common terminology for diagnosis is critically important for clinical communication, education, research and artificial intelligence. Prevailing lexicons are limited in fully representing skin neoplasms.
Objectives: To achieve expert consensus on diagnostic terms for skin neoplasms and their hierarchical mapping.
Article Synopsis
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly melanosomes secreted by melanocytes, are revealed as key players in intercellular communication, allowing intact transfer of melanin between cells.
- These melanosomes gain distinct protein signatures within receiving cells and can be further passed to other cells, like macrophages, influencing their polarization towards either pro-tumor or immune cell types.
- In melanoma, the presence of specific melanosome markers in macrophages correlates with disease aggressiveness and highlights the potential of targeting melanosome interactions to hinder melanoma progression.
Introduction: Early detection may lead to reduced morbidity and mortality from melanoma. This study aims to establish guidelines for selecting patients suitable for digital monitoring of skin lesions.
Methods: A literature review was conducted, followed by consensus among experts appointed by the Israeli Dermatology Association.
Introduction: Melanocytic nevi present microscopic patterns, which differ in their associated melanoma risk, and can be non-invasively recognized under Reflectance Confocal Microscopy (RCM).
Aims: To train a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) deep-learning model to produce synthetic images that recapitulate RCM patterns of nevi, enabling reliable classification by human readers and by a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) computer model.
Methods: A dataset of RCM images of nevi, presenting a uniform pattern, were chosen and classified into one of three patterns - Meshwork, Ring or Clod.
Background: Folliculitis decalvans (FD) is a type of primary neutrophilic cicatricial alopecia often leading to irreversible hair loss. Data on its epidemiology, clinical features, outcomes, and prognostic factors are limited.
Objective: To evaluate a cohort of patients with FD and identify characteristics of severe disease and prognostic factors which impede remission.
Background: Treatment management for congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) on the face (FCMN) is highly variable and requires a thorough assessment of multiple factors. To date, a systematic review of FCMN treatment is lacking. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the frequency, variety, and outcomes of treatment modalities for FCMN with different levels of complexity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Dermoscopy is valuable for detecting melanoma, but experts often disagree on important features.
- This study examined the agreement among 25 expert dermatologists on 248 dermoscopic images, focusing on specific melanocytic features and their locations.
- Results showed good-to-excellent agreement for 14 out of 31 features, especially for melanoma-specific characteristics, and all images are publicly available for educational and research purposes.
Background: Lentigo maligna (LM) can mimic benign, flat, pigmented lesions and can be challenging to diagnose.
Objective: To describe a new dermatoscopic feature termed "perifollicular linear projections (PLP)" as a diagnostic criterion for LM on the face.
Methods: Retrospective study on reflectance confocal microscopy and dermatoscopy images of flat facial pigmented lesions originating from 2 databases.
Article Synopsis
- * A study analyzed 817 patients treated with NB-UVB for various skin conditions, finding that 71% adhered to the prescribed treatment plan, with adherence notably decreasing as age increased.
- * The findings suggest that treatment plans may need adjustment based on age and diagnosis to improve patient adherence to NB-UVB therapy.
Introduction: In patients with multiple nevi, sequential imaging using total body skin photography (TBSP) coupled with digital dermoscopy (DD) documentation reduces unnecessary excisions and improves the early detection of melanoma. Correct patient selection is essential for optimizing the efficacy of this diagnostic approach.
Objectives: The purpose of the study was to identify, via expert consensus, the best indications for TBSP and DD follow-up.
Background: Facial skin is characterized by high density of follicles. Facial neoplasms may present overlapping clinical and dermoscopic findings. Our goal was to evaluate and compare, via reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), follicular involvement in facial neoplasms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe diagnosis of a small-diameter melanoma may be challenging. We report the case of a 57-year-old man with a small pigmented papular lesion (2.5-mm diameter) that was suspicious on dermoscopy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Congenital nail matrix nevi (NMN) are difficult to diagnose because they feature clinical characteristics suggestive of adult subungual melanoma. Nail matrix biopsy is difficult to perform, especially in children.
Objective: To describe the initial clinical and dermatoscopic features of NMN appearing at birth (congenital) or after birth but before the age of 5 years (congenital-type).
Article Synopsis
- * A new study highlights reflectance confocal microscopy, a noninvasive technique that images skin lesions at a cellular level, significantly improving the accuracy of BCC diagnoses and reducing unnecessary biopsies by 2-3 times.
- * Researchers developed a deep learning AI model that detected BCC in confocal images with a diagnostic performance comparable to human experts, showing strong potential for widespread clinical use in enhancing skin cancer diagnosis.
Background: The morphology of benign pigmented lesions on the ears has been scarcely studied.
Methods: We prospectively screened all patients presenting to a pigmented lesion clinic at a tertiary academic hospital, between November 2015 and August 2016, for the presence of benign pigmented ear lesions. Clinical and dermoscopic images were obtained for all lesions.
Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a high-resolution, noninvasive tool that is currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for obtaining and interpreting images of the skin and cutaneous neoplasms with the goal of decreasing unnecessary biopsy procedures in patients with benign lesions. The second article in this continuing medical education series focuses on identifying key criteria for the diagnosis of common skin cancers-melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. We contrast these findings with RCM features of common benign lesions-melanocytic nevi, solar lentigo, seborrheic keratosis, lichen planus-like keratosis, and sebaceous hyperplasia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a noninvasive imaging tool used for in vivo visualization of the skin. It has been extensively studied for use in the evaluation of equivocal cutaneous neoplasms to decrease the number of biopsy procedures in patients with benign lesions. Furthermore, its applications are broadening to include presurgical cancer margin mapping, tumor recurrence surveillance, monitoring of ablative and noninvasive therapies, and stratification of inflammatory disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Nevus phenotype is a marker of melanoma risk. In vivo prediction of microscopic pattern is needed to more precisely classify nevi.
Objective: To identify dermoscopic and clinical predictors of microscopic patterns of typical nevi.
Background: There is lack of uniformity in the reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) terminology for melanocytic lesions.
Objective: To review published RCM terms for melanocytic lesions and identify redundant, synonymous terms.
Methods: A systematic review of original research articles adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted until August 15, 2018.
Background: Melanoma in situ and dysplastic nevi with severe atypia present overlapping histopathologic features. Reflectance confocal microscopy findings can be integrated with the dermatopathology report to improve differentiation between melanoma and dysplastic nevi with severe atypia.
Objective: To compare prevalence of reflectance confocal microscopy findings between melanoma in situ and dysplastic nevi with severe atypia.