BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Australia, and primary care doctors can, and should, treat most cases. OBJECTIVE: In this article we outline one method for the effective use of dermatoscopy in diagnosing melanoma and other skin malignancies in general practice. DISCUSSION: The use of a dermatoscope in clinical practice has been shown to increase diagnostic accuracy and is considered the standard of care in assessing patients with pigmented skin lesions. Its use is also being increasingly applied to the diagnosis of nonpigmented skin lesions. Like any clinical tool, training is required for effective use. 'Chaos and clues' is a straightforward method of rapidly assessing suspicious pigmented skin lesions using a dermatoscope; its use can lead to improved diagnosis of melanoma and other skin malignancies.
BACKGROUND:Skin cancer is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Australia, and primary care doctors can, and should, treat most cases. OBJECTIVE: In this article we outline one method for the effective use of dermatoscopy in diagnosing melanoma and other skin malignancies in general practice. DISCUSSION: The use of a dermatoscope in clinical practice has been shown to increase diagnostic accuracy and is considered the standard of care in assessing patients with pigmented skin lesions. Its use is also being increasingly applied to the diagnosis of nonpigmented skin lesions. Like any clinical tool, training is required for effective use. 'Chaos and clues' is a straightforward method of rapidly assessing suspicious pigmented skin lesions using a dermatoscope; its use can lead to improved diagnosis of melanoma and other skin malignancies.
Authors: Elizabeth V Seiverling; Hadjh T Ahrns; Amrit Greene; Melissa Butt; Oriol Yélamos; Stephen W Dusza; Ashfaq A Marghoob Journal: J Am Board Fam Med Date: 2019 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.657
Authors: Samantha L Schneider; Indermeet Kohli; Iltefat H Hamzavi; M Laurin Council; Anthony M Rossi; David M Ozog Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2018-12-04 Impact factor: 11.527
Authors: Shirin Bajaj; Michael A Marchetti; Cristian Navarrete-Dechent; Stephen W Dusza; Kivanc Kose; Ashfaq A Marghoob Journal: JAMA Dermatol Date: 2016-06-01 Impact factor: 10.282
Authors: Cristina Carrera; Michael A Marchetti; Stephen W Dusza; Giuseppe Argenziano; Ralph P Braun; Allan C Halpern; Natalia Jaimes; Harald J Kittler; Josep Malvehy; Scott W Menzies; Giovanni Pellacani; Susana Puig; Harold S Rabinovitz; Alon Scope; H Peter Soyer; Wilhelm Stolz; Rainer Hofmann-Wellenhof; Iris Zalaudek; Ashfaq A Marghoob Journal: JAMA Dermatol Date: 2016-07-01 Impact factor: 10.282