Small-diameter melanomas: role of dermoscopy and digital dermoscopy follow-up
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47196/da.v25i1.2119Keywords:
melanoma, diagnosis, dermoscopyAbstract
Background: Recognition of small-diameter melanomas (SDM) is often challenging
Objective: To analyze the role of dermoscopy and follow-up with digital dermoscopy in the diagnosis of SDM
Design: Retrospective, observational, descriptive analysis of a series of 50 SDM diagnosed between 2015 and 2019.
Results: Among the SMD, 9 were reason for patient consultation (MMC), 30 were detected during routine nevi control (MMCR) and 11 were diagnosed due to changes observed during follow-up with digital dermoscopy (MMDD). Near 45% of the MMC were correctly classified as malignant lesions according to the “ABCD rule of dermoscopy”; this was observed only in 20% of the MMCR and in none of the MMDD. The "chaos and clues" algorithm led to excision in almost 90% of MMC, 60% of MMCR, and 50% of MMDD. The percentages of in situ melanoma were: 55% in the MMC, 73.3% in the MMCR and 72.9% in the MMDD. Among invasive melanomas, mean Breslow thickness was 0.62 mm in the MMC group, 0.5 mm in the MMCCR, and 0.4 mm in the MMDD.
Conclusions: The routine use of dermoscopy allows for the detection of melanomas with a low index of suspicion that patients may not be aware of. The use of digital follow-up enables the detection of incipient melanomas that lack not only clinical but also dermoscopic criteria of malignancy.
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