<p>A 37 year old woman was referred with a long-term lesion on the under-surface of the right breast, with a suggestion that the lesion had become darker and possibly changed in shape. There was no other relevant history. What structures do you see, and how are you going to manage this patient?</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><strong>There appear to be four components:</strong></p>
<p>- A pigment network (blue)<br>- Lines (purple)<br>- Variable brown clods (white) <br>- Structureless areas (black)</p>
<p>In general the more components there are the more alert one needs to be in terms of pathology, especially if one or more of the components appears atypical. Looking at the components the network and lines appear normal, and the structureless areas do not appear out of the ordinary. However, regarding the <strong>clods</strong> there is certainly variation in size, shape and to a lesser extent colour. </p>
<p>Given the history of change, along with four components and some atypical clods, there was enough for me to recommend excision, although given that the overall features were not striking I recorded on the histology form that this was most likely to be dysplastic. </p>
<p>Histology confirmed the diagnosis of a moderately dysplastic naevus that had been fully excised and required no further treatment. </p>
<p>Copied with kind permission from South Tees NHS Foundation Trust Hospitals. </p>
