What is digital mole mapping?

Mapping Moles, with the method of Digital Dermatoscopy, is currently the PAP-TEST of the skin. It is an extremely important test for anyone with moles. Skin cancer and especially melanoma is a form of cancer that is easily treated if detected early but is deadly if left to develop and metastasize to other parts of the body.

Based on the calculations of the World Health Organization, the incidence of skin cancers continues to increase. Worldwide, we count more than 2 million cases of skin cancer every year, of which 130,000 cases are melanoma. One-third of all diagnosed cancers in the world are skin cancers. The number of deaths each year due to skin cancer reaches 66,000. The numbers show that over 5,400 cases of skin cancer are recorded every year in Greece and of these more than 200 result in death. The increase in the number of cases seems to be related to the change in people's behavior towards the sun: vacations in sunny countries, tanning in the sun, etc., habits added to our lives during the 20th century. Any skin lesion must be checked by a specialist doctor for the presence of certain characteristics internationally referred to as ABCD (the first four letters of the Latin alphabet).

Asymmetry (the left part is different from the right).

Border irregularity (the borders of the mole are not clear in relation to the surrounding skin.

Color variety (the mole is not uniformly colored but contains various colors such as light and dark brown, black, pink, white, and blue).

Diameter over 6 mm (melanoma is usually larger than 6 mm in diameter).

In addition to the ABCD criteria there are other warning signs of melanoma:

Change in the size, shape, or color of a mole.

The mole bleeds or oozes fluid.

The mole is itchy, hard to the touch, misshapen, swollen, or painful.

A new mole appears on clear skin.

What is Digital Mole Mapping?

Mapping Moles, with the method of Digital Dermatoscopy, is currently the PAP-TEST of the skin. It is an extremely important test for anyone with moles so that photographs of the moles are recorded (stored on the machine but also given to the patient) and any future changes can be identified. The Digital Dermatoscope is the most specialized and reliable device for the diagnosis of Skin Cancer. The special camera of the dermatoscope magnifies the olive by x20, x30, x60, and x80 times. The machine sees elements that the human eye cannot see.

Images from each olive of the body are recorded, mapped, and stored in an individual file. Finally, with a special computer program, each nevus is analyzed and the risk percentage is extracted which helps in the final decision to remove or monitor the nevus. Even for aesthetic reasons, if an olive is to be removed, this examination must be done first. Images from each mole of the body are recorded, mapped, and stored in an individual file. Finally, with a special computer program, each nevus is analyzed and the risk percentage is derived which helps in the final decision to remove or monitor the nevus. Even for aesthetic reasons, if an olive is to be removed, this examination must be done first. The examination is painless, harmless, without radiation, and is suitable even for children.