Melanography

This module focuses on the foundations relating to skin cancer medicine. Participants will acquire the knowledge required to safely and confidently diagnose and treat commonly encountered skin lesions. It is the ideal starting point to build core knowledge in skin cancer management and acquire vital diagnostic skills and basic management techniques to provide effective care to patients.   

Unit one introduces the foundation information required for skin cancer medicine and outlines the content of the course. Unit two describes the BEST protocol (BEnign or Suspicious Test) and divides lesions into benign or suspicious with guidelines and clinical images of pigmented skin lesions. Benign lesions require no action and suspicious lesions require biopsy or referral. A quiz with clinical and dermoscopic images to select benign or suspicious lesions is provided, with contextual answers as part of this unit.  

Unit three discusses the importance of skin checks and commences with a table dividing assessment of skin cancer risk into three categories: high, medium and low risk and includes patient self-examination and opportunistic skin check. The unit describes how to perform a skin examination and includes lesion history, general medical history, allergies and current medications.

The unit includes a video of a systemic total skin examination. Unit four describes partial and complete punch and shave biopsy techniques.

The unit concludes with a patient case showing cylindrical portion of skin bearing a dark pigmented surface for which biopsy is recommended. The pathology report is provided as the lesion was partially excised and sent for examination.

This module focuses on the big three – BCC, SCC and melanoma relating to skin cancer medicine. Participants will learn about the clinical and dermoscopic features of BCCs, biopsy options, pathology and treatment approaches. The module then moves to solar keratosis and examines the use of topical non-surgical treatments.  

Unit two continues with field-directed treatment methods including photodynamic therapy, and lists the pros and cons of available treatments. Two patient cases are included. 

Unit three covers SCC lesions and outlines the clinical and dermoscopic features, biopsy options, pathology and treatment approaches. Clinical cases including images are provided for various SCCs. 

Unit four focuses on melanomas and sentinel lymph nodes and again outlines the clinical and dermoscopic features, biopsy options, pathology and treatment approaches. Clinical cases are provided for various melanomas. 

This module focuses on the approach to pigmented skin lesions relating to skin cancer medicine. Participants will acquire the knowledge required to safely and confidently diagnose and treat commonly encountered skin lesions. It is the ideal starting point to build core knowledge in skin cancer management and acquire vital diagnostic skills and basic management techniques to provide effective care to patients.  

Unit one discusses common benign lesions including freckles, solar lentigo, seborrheic keratosis, haemangioma, dermatofibroma and blue naevi. Normal and dermoscopic clinical images are provided to demonstrate patterns and assists with analysis. Benign lesions can mimic skin cancers and careful examination is required to decide management steps. The signs of common benign lesions that may be skin cancer are discussed in detail. A medico-legal case is included for a patient where a melanoma was masquerading as a benign lesion.  

Unit two begins with the description of dermoscopy including examples of dermoscopic devices used for this technique. The 3-point checklist consists of asymmetry in colour or structures, atypical network and blue-white structures (white scar-like depigmentation or blue pepper-like, globular or structure-less areas), showing various clinical dermoscopic images of lesions. 

This unit covers dysplastic naevi and melanoma. A table is shown of the relationship between nevus, dysplastic nevus and melanoma and includes a table of relative risk factors for melanoma. Several types of melanomas and treatment options are listed and supported by clinical images. The unit concludes with key points for detecting benign or suspicious lesions. 

This module focuses on the approach to non-pigmented skin lesions relating to skin cancer medicine. Participants will acquire the knowledge required to safely and confidently diagnose and treat commonly encountered skin lesions. It is the ideal starting point to build core knowledge in skin cancer management and acquire vital diagnostic skills and basic management techniques to provide effective care to patients.  

This unit starts with a clinical description of solar keratosis and outlines treatment options including field treatment. Attention is also paid to Bowen’s disease (a very early form of skin cancer), including symptoms, diagnosis (punch biopsy) and treatment. Dermoscopic images of both conditions are provided.

 
This unit describes keratocanthoma, a low-grade malignancy that requires a deep incision biopsy, and also discusses squamous cell carcinoma, a common cancer due to chronic, cumulative, sun exposure. Treatment options include surgery, curettage and cautery, specialist referral or radiation therapy. Clinical images of both conditions are provided. 

Unit three describes basal cell carcinoma, the most common human cancer due to intermittent excessive sun exposure. BCC can be classified as non-aggressive (superficial, nodular) or aggressive (sclerosing / infiltrating /  micronodular / multifocal / solid). Clinical images of the different types of basal cell carcinoma, diagnosis and treatment options are included.  

This module introduces the Chaos and Clues diagnostic method for identifying whether a skin lesion is benign or suspicious. This algorithm is based on revising pattern analysis to identify chaos, clues and exceptions, to assist with the diagnosis and management of skin lesions. Extensive images and examples are provided. In this module, the Chaos and Clues method is used to assess pigmented skin lesions such as melanomas, pigmented basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and pigmented squamous cell carcinoma (SCCs). The module also considers the four exceptions when considering a biopsy.

This module identifies the four most common types of benign non-melanocytic skin lesions commonly seen in daily practice. It explains in detail the use of dermoscopy in diagnosing seborrheic keratosis, dermatofibroma, vascular tumours and sebaceous hyperplasia including numerous dermoscopic images. The module explains the factors influencing the prevalence and morphology of these benign lesions. The module concludes with three management rules to follow in order not to miss melanoma that mimics a benign non-melanocytic tumour.

This module focuses on malignant non-melanocytic skin lesions commonly seen in daily practice. It explains in detail the use of dermoscopy in diagnosing keratinocyte carcinomas, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Dermoscopic images and pattern analysis are used throughout the presentation to differentiate between benign and malignant skin lesions.

This module focuses on the general aspects of the dermoscopic examination of pink tumours. It explains the patterns associated with melanocytic and non-melanocytic skins tumours in detail. This module also explains the contact and non-contact dermoscopy methods used when examining skin tumours. Dermoscopic images are used throughout the presentation to identify if the pink tumours are benign or suspicious based on vascular structures, arrangements, and clues. The module concludes with management rules to follow in order not to miss amelanotic melanoma.

Participants will learn about skin imaging techniques for detecting melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Various techniques are outlined commencing with (digital) dermatoscopy, listing physical foundation, indications, evidence and target groups. Total body photography is described and illustrated by images. A summary is given of indications, evidence and target groups. The module looks at reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), explaining the concept of the method, in which cases it is used and clinical indications. A chart is shown of possible combination of digital dermatoscopy with RCM. A summary is given of indications, evidence and target groups. The course then discusses optical coherence tomography, high frequency ultrasound, electric impedance spectroscopy, multispectral analysis and raman spectroscopy listing physical foundation, indications, evidence and target group.