Computer-aided dermoscopy for diagnosis of melanoma

BACKGROUND: Computer-aided dermoscopy using artificial neural networks has been reported to be an accurate tool for the evaluation of pigmented skin lesions. We set out to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a computer-aided dermoscopy system for diagnosis of melanoma in Iranian patients. METHODS: We studied 122 pigmented skin lesions which were referred for diagnostic evaluation or cosmetic reasons. Each lesion was examined by two clinicians with naked eyes and all of their clinical diagnostic considerations were recorded. The lesions were analyzed using a microDERM(® )dermoscopy unit. The output value of the software for each lesion was a score between 0 and 10. All of the lesions were excised and examined histologically. RESULTS: Histopathological examination revealed melanoma in six lesions. Considering only the most likely clinical diagnosis, sensitivity and specificity of clinical examination for diagnosis of melanoma were 83% and 96%, respectively. Considering all clinical diagnostic considerations, the sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 89%. Choosing a cut-off point of 7.88 for dermoscopy score, the sensitivity and specificity of the score for diagnosis of melanoma were 83% and 96%, respectively. Setting the cut-off point at 7.34, the sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 90%. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of the dermoscopy system was at the level of clinical examination by dermatologists with naked eyes. This system may represent a useful tool for screening of melanoma, particularly at centers not experienced in the field of pigmented skin lesions

Dermoscopy for Challenging Melanoma: How to Raise the 'Red Flag' when Melanoma Clinically Looks Benign

Melanoma may mimic clinically a number of benign skin tumours by exhibiting overlapping features that do not allow accurate differentiation. Dermoscopy is a noninvasive diagnostic tool allowing the evaluation of specific subsurface morphological structures that are useful in most cases to distinguish melanoma from other melanocytic and nonmelanocytic skin tumours. In order to minimize the risk of missing melanoma, the diagnosis should be based on a good correspondence between the clinical and the dermoscopic findings. The case presented here refers to a melanoma clinically simulating dermatofibroma that was biopsied because dermoscopic examination revealed unusual features that did not confirm the clinical diagnosis

Colorimetric analysis of pigmented skin lesions: A pilot study with the Visi-Chroma™ VC-100 device

SCOPUS: ar.jFLWINinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe