{"id":6276,"date":"2011-11-18T10:09:27","date_gmt":"2011-11-18T09:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T11:39:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T10:39:12","slug":"dermoscopy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-diagnosis\/dermoscopy\/","title":{"rendered":"Dermatoscopy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"im26-diagnosis-guide\">\n<nav class=\"im26-dg-toc\" aria-label=\"On this page\"><strong>On this page<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#guide-section-1\">How it works<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#guide-section-2\">What the dermatologist assesses<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#guide-section-3\">Images and follow-up<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#guide-section-4\">Limits and further assessment<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<section id=\"guide-section-1\" class=\"im26-dg-section\">\n<h2>How it works<\/h2>\n<p>A dermatoscope combines lighting and magnification. Polarised light or contact with a suitable fluid reduces surface reflections, revealing structures within the lesion. The examination does not remove tissue.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"guide-section-2\" class=\"im26-dg-section\">\n<h2>What the dermatologist assesses<\/h2>\n<p>Pigment network, colour distribution, dots, globules, streaks and blood-vessel patterns contribute to the overall assessment. <strong>One feature alone is not a diagnosis.<\/strong> The clinician also considers location, history and comparison with other lesions.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"guide-section-3\" class=\"im26-dg-section\">\n<h2>Images and follow-up<\/h2>\n<p>Digital dermoscopy can store images for later comparison. Monitoring is not appropriate for every lesion: if the clinical concern warrants it, the doctor recommends further investigation or removal.<\/p>\n<div class=\"im26-dg-gallery\">\n<figure><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/dermatoscopio-a-fibre-ottiche.jpg\" aria-label=\"Digital dermoscopy system, archive photograph.\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/dermatoscopio-a-fibre-ottiche.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Digital dermoscopy system, archive photograph.\"\/><\/a><figcaption>Digital dermoscopy system, archive photograph.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"guide-section-4\" class=\"im26-dg-section\">\n<h2>Limits and further assessment<\/h2>\n<p>Accuracy also depends on the examiner\u2019s experience. Some lesions are difficult to interpret and findings can be falsely reassuring. Histology is required for confirmation when indicated. Dermoscopic algorithms are professional tools, not tests for home photographs.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<aside class=\"im26-dg-related\">\n<h2>Continue reading<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-diagnosis\/\">Melanoma diagnosis<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-diagnosis\/dermoscopy\/modelli-di-dermatoscopio\/\">Dermatoscope models<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-diagnosis\/dermoscopy\/online-atlas-of-dermoscopy-2\/\">Online Atlas of Dermoscopy<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-sources\">\n<h2>Sources and update<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dermnetnz.org\/topics\/dermoscopy\" rel=\"noopener\">DermNet \u2014 Dermoscopy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.airc.it\/cancro\/informazioni-tumori\/guida-ai-tumori\/melanoma-cutaneo\" rel=\"noopener\">AIRC \u2014 Melanoma cutaneo<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Editorial update: 16 October 2026. This information provides guidance and does not replace a medical assessment.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A non-invasive examination that helps a dermatologist see skin structures more clearly. Interpretation requires training and experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"parent":5443,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6276","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Dermatoscopy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dermatoscopy (surface microscopy or epiluminescence microscopy) is a non-invasive diagnostic technique used for the early diagnosis of melanoma and for the evaluation of pigmentary and non-pigmentary lesions of the skin and visible mucous membranes, synonyms are dermoscopy, surface microscopy and epiluminescence microscopy.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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