Melanocytic Skin Lesion Evaluation Checklist

Description

Argenziano et al developed a checklist for use during epiluminescent microscopic examination of a melanocytic skin lesion. This can help identify a lesion that has an increased risk of being a malignant melanoma. The authors are from the Universities of Naples and Florence in Italy.

Parameters:

(1) pigment network

(2) color

(3) vascular pattern

(4) streaks

(5) blotches

(6) dots and globules

(7) regression pattern

Parameter	Finding	Points
pigment network	typical	0
	atypical	2
color	no gray-blue areas	0
	gray-blue areas present	2
vascular pattern	typical	0
	atypical	2
streaks	absent	0
	present	1
blotches	absent	0
	present	1
dots and globules	absent	0
	regular	0
	irregular	1
regression pattern	absent	0
	present	1

score =

= SUM(points for all 7 parameters)

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 10

• A score >= 3 indicates a lesion at increased risk for being a melanoma. Only melanomas had a score >= 8 in the original series.

Performance:

• Overall diagnostic sensitivity 85-95% with specificity 45-75%, depending on experience of the observer.

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Description

Specialty

Objective

ICD-10

The Epiluminescence Microscopy (ELM) 7-Point Checklist for Evaluation of a Melanocytic Skin Lesion

Purpose: To evaluate a pigmented skin lesion using epiluminescence microscopy and the 7-point checklist of Argenziano et al.

Description

Specialty

Objective

ICD-10