TY - JOUR
T1 - Dermoscopy for the family physician
AU - Marghoob, Ashfaq A.
AU - Usatine, Richard P.
AU - Jaimes, Natalia
N1 - Funding Information:
Editor's Note: At the time of initial submission, Dr. Marghoob did not list any disclosures on AFP's Conflict of Interest form, which asks for financial relationships with commercial entities that might have an interest in the topic. During the final stages of production, we discovered that Dr. Marghoob had the following relationships with makers of dermoscopes, which we agreed should be disclosed: (1) receiving dermoscope prototypes for testing from the four major manufacturers, and providing unpaid feedback and advice about these devices; (2) receiving honoraria for speaking on the topic of dermoscopy at meetings funded in part by makers of dermoscopes (however, Dr. Marghoob is not on any speakers' bureaus); and (3) being an investigator in Institutional Review Board–approved research projects funded by the National Institutes of Health and Melanoma Research Alliance, some of which partnered (at least to some extent) with companies that produce dermoscopes (however, Dr. Marghoob does not receive any compensation from this grant funding). Given the stage at which these conflicts came to our attention, we performed an internal review of the manuscript and disclosures, and ultimately decided that the manuscript provided an unbiased and nonpromotional description of this technique. In addition, Dr. Marghoob agreed to not enter into any relationships with a maker of dermoscopes that used his AFP article for any presentations on dermoscopy for at least 12 months after the article's publication. For these reasons, we decided to continue with publication. However, to be clear, relationships like these would generally be disqualifying according to our conflict of interest policy ( http://www.aafp.org/journals/afp/authors/guide/coi.html ).
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Noninvasive in vivo imaging techniques have become an important diagnostic aid for skin cancer detection. Dermoscopy, also known as dermatoscopy, epiluminescence microscopy, incident light microscopy, or skin surface microscopy, has been shown to increase the clinician's diagnostic accuracy when evaluating cutaneous neoplasms. A handheld instrument called a dermatoscope or dermoscope, which has a transilluminating light source and standard magnifying optics, is used to perform dermoscopy. The dermatoscope facilitates the visualization of subsurface skin structures that are not visible to the unaided eye. The main purpose for using dermoscopy is to help correctly identify lesions that have a high likelihood of being malignant (i.e., melanoma or basal cell carcinoma) and to assist in differentiating them from benign lesions clinically mimicking these cancers. Colors and structures visible with dermoscopy are required for generating a correct diagnosis. Routinely using dermoscopy and recognizing the presence of atypical pigment network, blue-white color, and dermoscopic asymmetry will likely improve the observer's sensitivity for detecting pigmented basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. A two-step algorithm based on a seven-level criterion ladder is the foundation for dermoscopic evaluation of skin lesions. The first step of the algorithm is intended to help physicians differentiate melanocytic lesions from the following nonmelanocytic lesions: dermatofibroma, basal cell carcinoma, seborrheic keratosis, and hemangioma. The second step is intended to help physicians differentiate nevi from melanoma using one of several scoring systems. From a management perspective, the two-step algorithm is intended to guide the decision-making process on whether to perform a biopsy, or to refer or reassure the patient.
AB - Noninvasive in vivo imaging techniques have become an important diagnostic aid for skin cancer detection. Dermoscopy, also known as dermatoscopy, epiluminescence microscopy, incident light microscopy, or skin surface microscopy, has been shown to increase the clinician's diagnostic accuracy when evaluating cutaneous neoplasms. A handheld instrument called a dermatoscope or dermoscope, which has a transilluminating light source and standard magnifying optics, is used to perform dermoscopy. The dermatoscope facilitates the visualization of subsurface skin structures that are not visible to the unaided eye. The main purpose for using dermoscopy is to help correctly identify lesions that have a high likelihood of being malignant (i.e., melanoma or basal cell carcinoma) and to assist in differentiating them from benign lesions clinically mimicking these cancers. Colors and structures visible with dermoscopy are required for generating a correct diagnosis. Routinely using dermoscopy and recognizing the presence of atypical pigment network, blue-white color, and dermoscopic asymmetry will likely improve the observer's sensitivity for detecting pigmented basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. A two-step algorithm based on a seven-level criterion ladder is the foundation for dermoscopic evaluation of skin lesions. The first step of the algorithm is intended to help physicians differentiate melanocytic lesions from the following nonmelanocytic lesions: dermatofibroma, basal cell carcinoma, seborrheic keratosis, and hemangioma. The second step is intended to help physicians differentiate nevi from melanoma using one of several scoring systems. From a management perspective, the two-step algorithm is intended to guide the decision-making process on whether to perform a biopsy, or to refer or reassure the patient.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 24134084
AN - SCOPUS:84885213430
SN - 0002-838X
VL - 88
SP - 441
EP - 450
JO - American family physician
JF - American family physician
IS - 7
ER -