Dermoscopic features and screening strategies for the detection of small-diameter melanomas.
Abstract Background: Around 70% of cutaneous malignant melanomas (MMs) develop de novo, and small-diameter or 'tiny' lesions are expected to represent the earliest manifestation of most MMs. Aim: To describe the clinical, histopathological and dermoscopic features of tiny MMs, and to investigate the impact of imaging tools, including total body photography (TBP) and sequential digital dermoscopy imaging (SDDI) in their detection. Methods: Consecutive MMs diagnosed over 2 years in a referral centre were retrospectively included. Tiny MMs were defined as MMs with a diameter of ≤ 5 mm on dermoscopy. Dermoscopic features and the performance of four imaging methods were evaluated. Results: Of [...]
Checklist for Evaluation of Image-Based Artificial Intelligence Reports in Dermatology: CLEAR Derm Consensus Guidelines From the International Skin Imaging Collaboration Artificial Intelligence Working Group
Abstract Importance: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating in all aspects of medicine and has the potential to transform clinical care and dermatology workflows. However, to develop image-based algorithms for dermatology applications, comprehensive criteria establishing development and performance evaluation standards are required to ensure product fairness, reliability, and safety. Objective: To consolidate limited existing literature with expert opinion to guide developers and reviewers of dermatology AI. Evidence review: In this consensus statement, the 19 members of the International Skin Imaging Collaboration AI working group volunteered to provide a consensus statement. A systematic PubMed search was performed of English-language articles published [...]
Assessing the Potential for Patient-led Surveillance After Treatment of Localized Melanoma (MEL-SELF): A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial
Abstract Importance: Patient-led surveillance is a promising new model of follow-up care following excision of localized melanoma. Objective: To determine whether patient-led surveillance in patients with prior localized primary cutaneous melanoma is as safe, feasible, and acceptable as clinician-led surveillance. Design, setting, and participants: This was a pilot for a randomized clinical trial at 2 specialist-led clinics in metropolitan Sydney, Australia, and a primary care skin cancer clinic managed by general practitioners in metropolitan Newcastle, Australia. The participants were 100 patients who had been treated for localized melanoma, owned a smartphone, had a partner to assist with skin self-examination (SSE), and had [...]
Assessing the Potential for Patient-led Surveillance After Treatment of Localized Melanoma (MEL-SELF): A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.
Abstract Importance: Patient-led surveillance is a promising new model of follow-up care following excision of localized melanoma. Objective: To determine whether patient-led surveillance in patients with prior localized primary cutaneous melanoma is as safe, feasible, and acceptable as clinician-led surveillance. Design, setting, and participants: This was a pilot for a randomized clinical trial at 2 specialist-led clinics in metropolitan Sydney, Australia, and a primary care skin cancer clinic managed by general practitioners in metropolitan Newcastle, Australia. The participants were 100 patients who had been treated for localized melanoma, owned a smartphone, had a partner to assist with skin self-examination (SSE), and had [...]
Case report of a challenging medium-sized congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN): Highlighting a role for reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) for evaluating changing CMN in children.
Abstract A 3.5-month-old boy presented with a changing medium-sized congenital melanocytic nevus on his leg. Due to atypical features on dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), an excision of the area of concern was performed. Histopathology showed many of the pathological features usually associated with a diagnosis of melanoma in situ in older patients, but due to the young age of the patient, absence of mitoses, and the degree of atypia, a diagnosis of a dysplastic compound nevus arising in a congenital compound (predominantly dermal) nevus was favored. In our case, RCM corresponded to histopathology helped target the area [...]
Association Between Melanoma Detected During Routine Skin Checks and Mortality.
Abstract Importance: Early melanoma diagnosis is associated with better health outcomes, but there is insufficient evidence that screening, such as having routine skin checks, reduces mortality. Objective: To assess melanoma-specific and all-cause mortality associated with melanomas detected through routine skin checks, incidentally or patient detected. A secondary aim was to examine patient, sociodemographic, and clinicopathologic factors associated with different modes of melanoma detection. Design, setting, and participants: This prospective, population-based, cohort study included patients in New South Wales, Australia, who were diagnosed with melanoma over 1 year from October 23, 2006, to October 22, 2007, in the Melanoma Patterns of Care Study [...]
Complex melanoma of the scalp: Diagnosis and management aided by confocal microscopy.
Abstract Melanomas of lentigo maligna subtype are a steadily growing problem and frequently represent a clinical challenge. A case is reported of a complex melanoma of the scalp illustrating the critical role of confocal microscopy for optimal diagnosis and management. Read Full Paper
A practical guide on the use of Imiquimod cream for Lentigo Maligna.
Abstract Lentigo maligna (LM) is a common in situ melanoma subtype arising on chronically sun-damaged skin and mostly affects the head and neck region. Localisation in cosmetically sensitive areas, difficulty to obtain wide resection margins and advanced patient age/comorbidities have encouraged investigation of less invasive therapeutic strategies than surgery in managing complex cases of LM. Radiotherapy and imiquimod have emerged as alternative treatment options in this context. The treatment of LM with imiquimod cream can be challenging due to the nature of the disease including its often large size, variegated appearance, involvement of adnexal structures, poorly defined peripheral edge [...]
Skin cancer classification via convolutional neural networks: systematic review of studies involving human experts.
Abstract Background: Multiple studies have compared the performance of artificial intelligence (AI)-based models for automated skin cancer classification to human experts, thus setting the cornerstone for a successful translation of AI-based tools into clinicopathological practice. Objective: The objective of the study was to systematically analyse the current state of research on reader studies involving melanoma and to assess their potential clinical relevance by evaluating three main aspects: test set characteristics (holdout/out-of-distribution data set, composition), test setting (experimental/clinical, inclusion of metadata) and representativeness of participating clinicians. Methods: PubMed, Medline and ScienceDirect were screened for peer-reviewed studies published between 2017 and 2021 and dealing [...]