title: Correlation of dermatoscopy with the histopathological changes in the diagnosis of thin melanoma.
abstract: Dermatoscopy is a non-invasive technique that enables the early diagnosis of melanoma. The purpose of the present study is to identify the dermatoscopic structures or changes that can indicate the presence of thin melanoma and their correlation with the histopathological aspect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four thin melanomas diagnosed at the Department of Dermatology in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, have been assessed from the point of view of the presence of dermatoscopic structures likely to indicate malignancy. The lesions have been excised and serially sectioned to identify the histopathological correspondent of the various dermatoscopic structures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dermatoscopic analysis has indicated the following characteristics that suggest the presence of thin melanoma: irregular dots or globules, small white or grey-blue areas, some peripheral pseudopods or radial streaming, red dots at the level of the lesion or the presence of an atypical vascular pattern. As far as lesions under dermatoscopic follow-up are concerned, the following may be signs of malignant transformation: changes of the pigment network, newly appeared small white or red-blue areas or irregularly distributed dots or globules. All these structures are correlated with the histopathological changes that characterize thin melanoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Slight dermatoscopic changes are extremely important in diagnosing thin melanomas as they correlate with the histopathological aspect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ungureanu
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Şenilă
authors.forename: Sorina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dănescu
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rogojan
authors.forename: Rodica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cosgarea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D046169:Dermoscopy; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D047368:Tumor Burden