Dermoscopic Aspects of Cutaneous Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer.

Abstract

Dermoscopy is a very important diagnostic tool in clinical practice. It increases accuracy in skin cancer detection. Melanoma and its major variants have distinct dermoscopic patterns and structures described as well as cutaneous keratynocytic tumors such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinomas. Superficial spreading melanoma may show dermoscopic structures varying from atypical network, atypical hyperpigmentation, atypical globules and dots, and atypical streaks to negative network; lentigo maligna lesions demonstrate dermoscopic structures associated with the tumour progression around follicular openings; nodular lesions may be suspected mainly by colors (pink or blue and black) and the recognition of peculiar patterns such as the parallel ridge pattern may facilitate vascular structures and acral lentiginous. The histopathologic subtype of BCC is an important determinant of the dermoscopic pattern of the tumor, being the vascular strucutures a significant clue for its diagnosis. Invasive squamous cell carcinoma may also be differentiated from in situ lesions by clinical and dermoscopic aspects such as vascular and hyperkeratotic structures. The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive overview of the major dermoscopic patterns and structures described for the diagnosis of major melanoma variants and for cutaneous carcinomas. It also gives some insights about sequential digital imaging for patients with multiple melanocytic nevi.