Practice Gaps in Dermatology: Melanocytic Lesions and Melanoma

Abstract

Early detection remains the most important strategy to reduce melanoma mortality. The identification and evaluation of new or changing skin lesions are important components of melanoma screening and are best performed today using complementary noninvasive imaging technologies, such as total body photography (TBP), dermoscopy, sequential digital dermoscopic imaging (SDDI), and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM). Despite strong evidence showing that these screening techniques improve diagnostic accuracy for melanoma, they are not widely used by dermatologists. In this practice gaps review, the authors highlight the use, evidence, and rationale for TBP, dermoscopy, SDDI, and RCM.

Keywords: Dermoscopy; Digital dermoscopy; Early melanoma diagnosis; Melanoma; Nevi; Reflectance confocal microscopy; Sequential digital dermoscopy imaging; Total body photography.