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SKIN SURGERY
Suspected skin lesions and mole Dermatoscopy
Moles are a normal manifestation on the skin of every human being. These are benign clusters of light or darker brown skin cells (depending on their melanin content), flat or affected.
There are 2 main mole categories: the congenital moles which appear at birth, or shortly after and the acquired moles which may appear at some point during a person's lifetime.
Congenital nevi are divided into small, medium and large (over 20cm), with the latter having moderate rates of melanoma mutation and should be surgically removed by a plastic surgeon. Acquired ones appear mainly after adolescence and increase in number under the influence of sunlight.
Why is Dermatoscopy necessary?
Because some of these nevi may in the future develop into malignant lesions or melanoma, a very serious and deadly skin cancer.
DYSPLASTIC MOLES (informal nevi)
These are the common benign nevi, which look like melanoma. People with dysplastic nevi are more likely to develop single or multiple melanoma. The greater the number of these nevi that a person has, the higher the risk.
MELANOMA
It is one of the most deadly forms of skin cancer. It appears either as an asymmetrical, irregular border, multicolored or brown spot or as an appendage that continues to increase in size over time. In rare cases, it may not be pigmented.
However, it can also occur over a pre-existing mole that has changed.
When does a mole become dangerous? Remembering the ABCD rule
Assymetry (Development of asymmetry, ie half of the damage is not equal to the other half)
- Border (Abnormality of the limits of damage)
- Color (Variety in the nevus)
- Diameter (increase in size, about 6mm, more likely to be malignant)
Elevation-Evolution: if a mole shows any change in its original morphology, if it grows, causes itching, pain or bruising, if the lesion is strange to touching or changes in color (discoloration or hyperpigmentation), it is necessary for the person carrying it, to visit the specialist plastic surgeon to assess the diagnosis of the lesion and if necessary, its surgical removal and biopsy.
CAUTION!
Laser techniques, cauterization or cryo-coagulation, should never be applied to remove moles or suspected for cancer, skin lesions!!
