Skin cancer tests using digital imaging can be performed by a qualified nurse or doctor using a special digital dermoscope camera and skin mapping software. Digital dermoscopy uses high magnification and high light intensity to illuminate the subsurface features of skin lesions that cannot be detected with the naked eye. It is particularly suitable for identifying melanoma, although it has some use in the diagnosis of non-methane lesions, such as basal cell carcinomas. Digital imaging can provide benefits in the form of remote diagnosis, early detection of skin cancer and preventive medicine.
Diagnostic accuracy
Although reliable, good diagnostic accuracy can be achieved using traditional dermoscopy techniques, digital dermoscopy can improve the accuracy of skin cancer detection. During a digital skin check, images of all lesions meeting certain ones are taken, which may indicate malignancy. As a rule, a normal photographic image of the lesion is taken, followed by a high-resolution dermoscope. Data related to the lesion, such as pruritus or perceived height, can also be recorded. By combining these data together in an electronic record, digital dermoscopy can help doctors identify skin cancer and help reduce the need for unnecessary removal from benign lesions. This method can also reduce the need for medical doctors to perform biopsies.
Benefits of storing digital recordings
One of the key benefits of digital dermoscopy is that, after the initial digital recording, it can be compared with images taken during subsequent consultations. This allows physicians to detect changes in the skin at an early stage and treat cancer before they become problematic. This is especially useful for patients with a large number of moles (50 moles or more) or a large number of atypical homelands (5 moles or more), as doctors can track changes with such large numbers. It is also useful for patients with a high risk of melanoma skin cancer, since many melanomas arise from previously unlabelled skin and can do this relatively quickly. Patients who undergo a digital image are usually checked on a periodic basis at least once a year.
Telemedicine applications
Digital images can be viewed onsite by a doctor or dermatologist, but are often used in telemedicine, where a doctor or dermatologist looks at images off the site. This can be useful for patients in remote areas who do not have access to specialist doctors. After each lesion is diagnosed, a dermatologist or medical specialist will report to the local general practitioner, who will identify concerns and detail any recommended treatment. Digital dermoscopy can also help medical clinics, which have a large number of patients, because it allows the nurse or general practitioner to do the hard work of taking images, and the diagnosis of a specialist doctor or a dermatologist - later. By focusing on the diagnosis, the specialist can view images of a large number of patients in a short period of time.
