Short Term Mole Monitoring

Short term mole monitoring is an additional diagnostic tool used for the early detection of melanoma. It is typically used to monitor a single suspicious growth that lacks definite dermatoscopic features of melanoma.

The technique is most often used for changing moles that appear benign with dermoscopy or in the case of certain suspicious moles that have no history of clinical change.

A high resolution digital dermatoscopic image is taken and then photographed again after a 3 month interval. Studies have verified that unchanged lesions are benign and those that demonstrate change are likely malignant.

Ultimately, short term mole monitoring allows for the detection of melanoma at its earliest stage and helps avoid unnecessary excisions.

Total Body Photography

Total body photography involves the use of a high-resolution professional digital camera to capture a patient's baseline skin in a series of standardized photographs. The aim is the identification of malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, at the earliest possible stage.

This photographic skin "map" enables us, along with our patients (during home self examination), to objectively detect new and monitor for changing moles over time, an important diagnostic clue for melanoma .

If a change id identified in a particular growth as compared to the baseline photographed, it is then more carefully evaluated using a handheld microscope called a dermatoscope.

Total Body Photography is most often used for high-risk patients including:

• History of sunburns and/or extensive lifetime sun exposure
• Multiple ordinary moles (over 50)
• Dysplastic nevi (Atypical Nevi)
• Personal history of melanoma
• Family history of melanoma

Patients are provided with a DVD containing digital images of their entire skin surface or a set of printed color photographs are also available. High resolution digital photography allows one to "Zoom in" for close up views of a particular suspicious mole.

The use of total body photography as a tool for early melanoma detection has been validated in several scientific studies. Total body photography helps us to identify and excise potentially malignant lesions while minimizing unnecessary biopsies.

Dermoscopy

Dermscopy, also known as epiluminescence microscopy (ELM) or skin surface microscopy, is a non-invasive technique utilizing a hand held microscopic that allows magnified examination of suspicious skin growths.

Dermoscopy helps to distinguish between benign and malignant skin lesions and has been shown in several studies to increase the diagnostic accuracy of melanoma. This tool allows us to detect melanomas earlier and avoid unnecessary biopsies of benign lesions.

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