Grazyna Kaminska-Winciorek

Tips and tricks in the dermoscopy of pigmented lesions

Dermoscopy is a useful, widely used tool for examining pigmented lesions, especially helpful in cases of an uncertain nature. Nevertheless, doctors may experience diagnostic difficulties while using this method. An example of this may be found in the examination of subcorneal hematoma, dark nevi with black lamella or lesions of acral volar skin. In such cases, a few diagnostic tricks have proven to be helpful in achieving diagnostic accuracy.This paper reviews various methods of performing dermoscopy, suggesting a number of simple, yet helpful tests. These include the adhesive tape test, the skin scraping test and the ink furrow test. The adhesive tape test is helpful in differentiating between dark melanocytic nevi and melanoma. Hematoma may be more easily differentiated with the use of the so-called skin scraping test. The confirmation of benign and melanocytic lesions of acral volar skin, on the other hand, is more accurate when using the ink furrow test. These methods have been discussed here based upon a series of literature reviews, the authors’ own experience and, also, iconography.The present article describes novel methods used in dermoscopy, helping to bring about a faster, more accurate diagnostics of those lesions which have proven to be more difficult to recognize. Helpful tricks, such as have been known to professional literature, as well as the authors’ own experience (for instance, applying urea cream to hyperkeratotic lesions or using photographs of skin lesions taken with the aid of a mobile phone camera – all prior to surgery) will surely be considered beneficial to the practitioner, be it dermatologist or any other physician.

Basic dermoscopy of melanocytic lesions for beginners

BACKGROUNDnDermoscopy is a safe, easy-to-repeat diagnostic method used especially in the diagnosis of melanocytic lesions and others. Performing dermoscopy for skin lesions on the whole body takes only one minute more than standard clinical examination. Therefore the knowledge of basic dermoscopy among multi-specialization doctors - from general practitioners, surgeons, oncologists to dermatologists - increases the possibility of detection of potential melanoma.nnnAIMnTo describe the basic aspects of dermoscopy of melanocytic lesions.nnnMETHODSnReview of medical databases PubMed and Medline from the last 8 years and a retrospective analysis of own experience.nnnRESULTSnWe report the fundamental principles of performing dermoscopy, basic dermoscopic features and diagnostic algorithms of selected melanocytic lesions. Conclusions. The knowledge base of dermoscopy is very important among doctors of many specializations. It increases melanoma detection in very early stages.

Dermoscopy on subungual melanoma

UNLABELLEDnSubungual melanoma is a rare, but one of the diagnostically most difficult variants of melanoma. Unfortunately, due to its late detection, lack of an early reaction from the patient and diagnosis in advanced stages, subungual melanoma is deemed as a prognostically unfavorable variant of this malignancy. Diagnosis of subungual melanoma is very difficult to establish merely on the basis of clinical examination due to the resemblance of subungual hematoma to melanocytic nevus, fungal or bacterial infections. Dermoscopy seems to be the ideal diagnostic tool in the differential diagnosis of this life-threatening disease.nnnAIMSnTo describe the basic aspects of dermoscopy of subungual melanoma and other conditions involving the nails.nnnMETHODSnReview of medical database PubMed for the literature of the last 10 years on the dermoscopic patterns of subungual melanoma and other subungual diseases.nnnRESULTSnWe collate the fundamental rules of performing dermoscopy in subungual melanoma, as well as basic dermoscopic features and diagnostic algorithms of selected subungual lesions requiring differentiation from melanoma.nnnCONCLUSIONSnDermoscopy is a safe, easily repeatable diagnostic method, and the knowledge of basic dermoscopic patterns of developing melanoma in subungual localization, along with the differential diagnosis of other diseases within the nail plate, will help not only dermatologists, but also the professionals of other specialties, such as surgeons, oncologists, orthopedists, and also general practitioners.

Dermoscopy of Nevus Spilus

nique is that it provides excellent color and texture match because original forehead skin is used for the skin graft. When the donor defect is too large to be repaired using one pedicle graft, two grafts can be prepared from the excised pedicle and sutured as one piece. In conclusion, a modified PFF using a pedicle graft to repair large donor defects on the forehead improved the patients’ quality of life by providing better functional and aesthetic outcomes with less downtime than a conventional PFF.

Case report Dermoscopy on nevus comedonicus: a case report and review of the literature

Nevus comedonicus (NC) is a very rare, benign hamartoma characterised by the occurrence of dilated, comedo-like openings, typically on the face, neck, upper arms, chest or abdomen. In uncertain cases, histopathological examination confirms the diagnosis. The authors suggest dermoscopy as a rapid and useful method of initial diagnosis of nevus comedonicus based upon its distinctive dermoscopic features. The dermoscopy reveals numerous light- and dark-brown, circular or barrel-shaped, homogenous areas with prominent keratin plugs.

Frequency of post-adolescent acne and its impact on the quality of life of young women

Post-adolescent acne (adult female acne) is a chronic disorder of the pilosebaceous unit that typically affects young women around 25 years of age. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of post-adolescent acne and its impact on the quality of life among young Polish women. Material and methods: An anonymous questionnaire survey of 128 female students of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. Results: Of the 128 study participants, 95 had experienced acne problems at least once in their lives (lifetime prevalence 74%; 95%CI=67–82%). The presence of acne lesions at the time of responding to the questionnaire was reported by 71 respondents (point prevalence 55%; 95%CI=47-64%). The age at first appearance of the lesions ranged from 10–25 years (median 14 years). Among the most frequently reported acne lesions were open comedones (71%), closed comedones (46%), and less frequently, pustules (42%) and papules (23%). In the majority of the respondents (67%) the efflorescences were located mainly on the face, predominantly (46%) in the mental area. Acne lesions and associated symptoms were considered as a big or very big problem by 40% of respondents with acne. However, 95% of respondents declared that the presence of acne does not impede relations within their families. Also, the skin conditions affected the outing activities of hardly any of the respondents, and it interfered with the sporting activities, shopping, going to the cinema or attending university in none of them. Conclusions: Post-adolescent acne affects more than a half of adult Polish women and typically is a continuation of adolescent acne vulgaris. This disease decreases the level of selfattractiveness of the affected women and influences their daily routines; however, in the majority of cases it does not cause a relevant decrease in the quality of life or pose a considerable obstacle to everyday functioning and interpersonal relations.