<p>This asymptomatic skin lesion on the patient's back was picked up by chance. On examination the skin is very UV-damaged. There is a pink papule with a central erosion, and a subtle grey-brown rim. What is the diagnosis? </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>Dermoscopically the centre is relatively structureless, although there is a <strong>small erosion (black arrow)</strong>. At the periphery there are many <strong>irregular brown-grey clods</strong>, which as per the dermoscopic algorithm are in keeping with a basal cell carcinoma. Not all BCC have branching blood vessels. Other dermoscopic features of a BCC, such as blue-grey round-oval clods, or irregular brown (brown-grey) clods are <strong>often concentrated towards the periphery. </strong></p><p>This lesion was excised with a 4 mm margin. A standard excision creates an ellipse with a 3:1 ratio (length vs breadth), however, on certain body sites where the skin can be moved easily in several directions, such as with this case around the scapula, wounds can often be closed with a circle, leaving a much smaller scar. </p>
