<p>This patient was referred with a changing skin lesion on his right upper back.</p>
Dermoscopy - Introduction, Terminology and Structures
A document to help you understand the dermoscopic descriptions used in this blog.
Dermoscopy Algorithm
To help you work through dermoscopic cases.
<p>The lesion is <strong>melanocytic as defined by the small focus of network and brown dots/clods (black circle)</strong>. The lesion is <strong>asymmetrical</strong>, and much of it is taken up by a <strong>large eccentric structureless area</strong>, as you will see by the algorithm this is suspicious. In addition there are <strong>multiple white lines</strong>, best seen in the purple circle, which gives additional cause for concern.</p>
<p>The lesion was excised and found to be a melanoma arising from a pre-existing naevus, with a Breslow thickness of 1.6 mm. </p>
<p>Patient's frequently tell us they cover up there moles when in the sun ... in reality <strong>only about 20% of melanomas arise from pre-existing benign melanocytic naevi</strong>, the rest arise de novo - the message is simply that patients need to take care of all their skin, and not just their moles.</p>
<p>Copied with kind permission from South Tees NHS Foundation Trust.</p>
