Background: Differentiating melanoma (MM) from seborrheic keratosis (SK) containing a blue-white veil (BWV) remains challenging.
Objective: Identify dermoscopic features that can improve upon the differentiation between MMs and SKs exhibiting BWV.
Methods: Images from 110 MMs and 121 SKs containing BWV were aggregated, and 91 MMs and 62 SKs from this data set had complete agreement on the presence of BWV according to 3 expert dermoscopists.
Background: Patients with skin lesions suspicious for skin cancer or atypical melanocytic nevi of uncertain malignant potential often present to dermatologists, who may have variable dermoscopy triage clinical experience.
Objective: To evaluate the clinical utility of a digital dermoscopy image-based artificial intelligence algorithm (DDI-AI device) on the diagnosis and management of skin cancers by dermatologists.
Methods: Thirty-six United States board-certified dermatologists evaluated 50 clinical images and 50 digital dermoscopy images of the same skin lesions (25 malignant and 25 benign), first without and then with knowledge of the DDI-AI device output.
Background: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer worldwide. As artificial intelligence (AI) expands its scope within dermatology, leveraging technology may aid skin cancer detection.
Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of an elastic-scattering spectroscopy (ESS) device in evaluating lesions suggestive of skin cancer.
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.
Objectives: Some melanocytic neoplasms suspicious for melanoma require additional workup to arrive at a final diagnosis. Within the last eight years, gene expression profiling (GEP) has become an important ancillary tool to aid in the diagnosis of melanocytic neoplasms with uncertain malignant potential. As the usage of two commercially available tests (23-GEP and 35-GEP) evolves, it is important to answer key questions about optimal utilization and their impact on patient care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFor a small yet significant proportion of melanocytic lesions, histopathologic analysis may be unable to definitively evaluate malignant potential. These cases may signify a specific need for newer ancillary diagnostic technologies, including in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and gene expression profiling (GEP), both of which are highly sensitive in the diagnosis of melanoma. We report four cases of clinically suspicious melanocytic lesions that lacked definitive malignant features on histopathology and that were aided by use of RCM and GEP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Among the various widely recognized basal cell carcinoma (BCC) clinical patterns, linear basal cell carcinoma (LBCC) is an uncommon morphologic variant of BCC.
Objectives: Describe the clinical and dermoscopic characteristics of LBCC.
Methods: Retrospective study including LBCC cases from 5 dermatology centers in North and South America.
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 PDFSince its first introduction into medical practice, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) has been a valuable non-invasive diagnostic tool for the assessment of benign and malignant neoplasms of the skin. It has also been used as an adjunct for diagnosing equivocal cutaneous neoplasms that lack characteristic clinical or dermoscopic features. The use of RCM has led to a decreased number of biopsies of benign lesions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmunosuppression, as seen in solid organ transplant recipients, is highly associated with the development of keratinocyte carcinomas (KCs). Reducing the level of immunosuppression lowers the incidence of KCs but at the cost of increased potential morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have revealed a greater prevalence of HPV DNA, especially that of β-HPV, in KCs of immunocompromised patients compared to KCs of immunocompetent individuals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a noninvasive imaging tool that has the potential to revolutionize dermatology. Extensive research in this area in conjunction with the recent assignment of reimbursement codes has made the clinical use of this technology a practical reality. Though there is awareness and use of this technology at large academic centers, a knowledge gap still remains in interpreting RCM images among the dermatology community.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: 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 PDFImportance: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer. Dermoscopic imaging has improved diagnostic accuracy; however, diagnosis of nonpigmented BCC remains limited to arborizing vessels, ulceration, and shiny white structures.
Objective: To assess multiple aggregated yellow-white (MAY) globules as a diagnostic feature for BCC.
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.