Fit for Dermatoscopy - Video course on skin cancer diagnostics
by Prof. Andreas Blum
The following video lessons by Prof. Andreas Blum, a dermatoscopy expert, give viewers a comprehensive understanding of the basics of dermatoscopy. The training content is based on ‘Diagnostic Eye’, his proprietary algorithm. The course also covers the principles and techniques that are essential for accurately examining the skin with a dermatoscope.
Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Blum
- An internationally recognised expert, lecturer and consultant in dermatoscopy / dermatology and skin cancer
- Over 230 publications, over 2,000 lectures and webinars worldwide
- A dermatologist with his own practice in Constance, Germany
‘Fit for Dermatoscopy’ video course
Prof. Blum gives short, succinct explanations of what the different colours and shapes of naevus mean. He goes into detail when discussing the diagnosis of malignant types of naevus such as melanoma or basal cell carcinoma, not to mention rarer tumours such as Merkel cell carcinoma. He also explains the various types of benign naevus – all using specific case studies.
The dermatoscopy video course is aimed specifically at dermatologists starting out in clinical practice and at general practitioners and other healthcare professionals who would like to improve their diagnostic skills in detecting skin cancer.
In three series, the individual educational videos guide viewers through the intricacies of dermatoscopic diagnosis one step at a time. Course language: English.
Introductory video: Overview of the course content in all three series (3:39)
Series 1: Basics of Dermatoscopy (3 videos)
Episode 1 – A short glimpse into physics of dermoscopy (5:47)
Dermatoscopy with a contact plate and contact liquids. What is visible with polarised light?
Episode 2 - Colors in dermoscopy (8:04)
Colours of skin lesions – What role do melanin, keratin and haemoglobin play?
Episode 3 - Management decision of malignant and benign skin lesions (9:35)
Approach to diagnostics and treatment of benign and malignant lesions.
Series 2: Dermoscopic diagnoses based on the ‘Diagnostic Eye’
Intro to series 2 – Overview of episodes 4 – 8: melanocytic lesions (1:24)
Common naevi, severe dysplasia, melanoma in situ, invasive melanoma and recurrent naevi.
Episode 4 – Common naevi (8:50)
Different structures and pigmentation types, distinction between Reed naevus and melanoma.
Episode 5 – Common naevi vs. severe dysplasia (5:48)
Learn how naevi change with age and the associated malignancy risk.
Episode 6 – Birth of melanoma: melanoma in situ (13:33)
Detecting melanoma across various areas and types of skin.
Episode 7 – Invasive melanoma (7:27)
How to detect malignant lesions early on. Key signs such as white lines under polarisation or pink-coloured naevi.
Episode 8 – Recurrent naevus vs. melanoma (5:59)
What to pay attention to on encountering chaotic growth, pigmentation beyond excision scars and repigmentation on old scars.
Episode 9 – Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) (11:15)
What are the three major markers that point to a BCC? And why studying advanced stages helps identifying early-stage carcinomas.
Episode 10 – Actinic Keratosis and Bowen’s Disease (7:04)
How does actinic keratosis look like? And learn why Bowen’s disease can be mistaken for some type of melanoma.
Episode 11 – Keratoacanthoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) (4:54)
How does keratoacanthoma present under the dermatoscope and learn how whitish areas can be a hint for a SCC.
Episode 12 – Rare malignant skin lesions (3:35)
Merkel cell carcinoma or Kaposi sarcoma do not show any specific patterns. How to make a diagnosis?
Episode 13 – Lentigo simplex and seborrheic keratosis (11:49)
How do the flat, homogeneous structures of lentigo simplex develop into seborrheic keratosis? Benign and very common, the seborrheic keratosis comes in wide variation and can sometimes be tricky to diagnose.
Episode 14 – Lichen planus-like keratosis, ink spot lentigo and clear cell acanthoma (8:19)
Watch different representations of these type of lesions and learn in which cases Prof. Blum sees histopathology as indispensable for diagnosis.
Episode 15 – Dermatofibroma and accessory nipple (8:00)
Prof. Blum presents typical dermatofibroma in different stages in different skin types and shows the difference to accessory nipples under the dermatoscope.
Episode 16 – Angioma and Angiokeratoma (4:48)
Angiomas appear red or bluish with the colour indicating where the lesion is located. Angiokerathoma is an angioma with kerathosis. But be careful with the diagnosis: Prof. Blum shows an example under the dermatoscope that could be mistaken for a nodular melanoma.
Episode 17 – Granuloa pyogenicum (3:47)
This is a benign proliferation that can grow very rapidly, showing structureless red areas and white lines in polarised light in the dermatoscopic view. However, it is important to always differentiate versus (amelanotic) melanoma!
Episode 18 – Hyperplasia of sebaceous glands (2:18)
White-yellow globules surrounded by regular vessels are the dermoscopic features of this benign lesion. Prof. Blum explains how to differentiate versus a basal cell carcinoma.
Episode 19 – Cornu cutaneum (3:24)
This benign lesion mostly seen in older patients is characterised by keratinised skin growth raised above the skin level. After dermoscopic examination, a histopathological examination might be indicated. Learn more about this bizarre lesion in this episode.