title: Dermatoscopy in routine practice - 'chaos and clues'.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin cancer is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Australia, and primary care doctors can, and should, treat most cases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this article we outline one method for the effective use of dermatoscopy in diagnosing melanoma and other skin malignancies in general practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a dermatoscope in clinical practice has been shown to increase diagnostic accuracy and is considered the standard of care in assessing patients with pigmented skin lesions. Its use is also being increasingly applied to the diagnosis of nonpigmented skin lesions. Like any clinical tool, training is required for effective use. 'Chaos and clues' is a straightforward method of rapidly assessing suspicious pigmented skin lesions using a dermatoscope; its use can lead to improved diagnosis of melanoma and other skin malignancies.
authors: School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland. cliffrosendahl@bigpond.com
authors: Cliff
authors: C
authors: Rosendahl
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Cameron
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: McColl
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology