Dermoscopy Course

Lesson 1 • Optical Principles of Dermoscopy

Covers light-skin interface physics, polarized vs. non-polarized modes, and immersion fluid optics. Grounds all subsequent pattern recognition in physical reality.

Lesson 2 • Documentation and Image Management

Establishes standards for labeling, storing, and retrieving dermoscopic images in clinical records. Supports longitudinal monitoring and medicolegal compliance.

Lesson 3 • Dermoscope Types and Selection

Compares handheld, video, and hybrid dermoscopes by magnification, sensor, and workflow fit. Enables informed equipment decisions for clinical settings.

Lesson 4 • Skin Anatomy Relevant to Dermoscopy

Reviews epidermis, dermis, and adnexal structures as seen through the dermoscope. Links histological layers to visible dermoscopic structures.

Lesson 1 • Lines and Streaks

Catalogs radial streaming, pseudopods, and branched lines with their directional significance. Prepares students to detect asymmetric growth patterns.

Lesson 2 • Dots, Globules, and Clods

Distinguishes dots from globules by size and color, and clods by their larger aggregated form. Connects each to specific histological correlates.

Lesson 3 • Vascular Structures

Classifies dotted, looped, comma, and arborizing vessels by morphology and distribution. Establishes vascular pattern recognition as a diagnostic pillar.

Lesson 4 • Regression Structures

Identifies white scar-like areas and blue-gray peppering as regression markers. Links regression extent to prognostic significance in melanoma.

Lesson 5 • Shiny White Structures and Crystals

Describes shiny white lines, rosettes, and chrysalis structures visible only under polarized light. Expands structural vocabulary beyond non-polarized findings.

Lesson 1 • Pattern Analysis Method

Integrates global pattern recognition with local feature assessment for expert-level diagnosis. Builds on all prior structural knowledge for holistic lesion evaluation.

Lesson 2 • ABCD Rule of Dermoscopy

Applies asymmetry, border, color, and differential structure scoring to calculate the total dermoscopy score. Introduces quantitative thresholds for biopsy decisions.

Lesson 3 • Menzies Method

Uses one positive and eleven negative feature sets to diagnose melanoma without scoring. Complements ABCD by offering a binary feature-checklist approach.

Lesson 4 • Two-Step Dermoscopy Algorithm

Teaches the initial melanocytic vs. non-melanocytic decision step before lesion-specific analysis. Prevents misclassification errors at the first diagnostic gate.

Lesson 1 • Special-Site Nevi

Addresses nevi on face, scalp, palms, soles, and mucosa with site-specific normal variants. Prevents over-diagnosis of benign site-specific patterns as malignant.

Lesson 2 • Common Acquired Melanocytic Nevi

Characterizes junctional, compound, and intradermal nevi by their dermoscopic patterns. Establishes the benign baseline against which atypical lesions are compared.

Lesson 3 • Dysplastic and Atypical Nevi

Identifies dermoscopic features correlating with histological dysplasia and elevated melanoma risk. Guides management decisions for surveillance vs. excision.

Lesson 4 • Advanced and Nodular Melanoma

Covers dermoscopic features of thick, nodular, and amelanotic melanoma subtypes. Addresses the diagnostic challenge of featureless and hypomelanotic lesions.

Lesson 5 • Melanoma Subtypes by Location

Analyzes lentigo maligna, acral lentiginous, and mucosal melanoma with site-specific criteria. Ensures diagnostic accuracy across all anatomical locations.

Lesson 1 • Basal Cell Carcinoma Features

Catalogs arborizing vessels, leaf-like areas, spoke-wheel structures, and ulceration as BCC criteria. Differentiates BCC subtypes by their dominant dermoscopic pattern.

Lesson 2 • Seborrheic Keratosis Patterns

Identifies milia-like cysts, comedo-like openings, fissures, and moth-eaten borders as diagnostic criteria. Prevents misdiagnosis of seborrheic keratosis as melanoma.

Lesson 3 • Vascular Lesions

Distinguishes hemangiomas, angiokeratomas, and pyogenic granulomas by lacunae color and vessel morphology. Prevents misclassification of vascular lesions as melanoma.

Lesson 4 • Dermatofibroma and Fibrous Lesions

Defines the central white patch with peripheral pigment network as the dermatofibroma hallmark. Connects fibrous stroma to polarized shiny white structures.

Lesson 1 • Dermoscopy of Psoriasis and Eczema

Identifies dotted vessels on red background in psoriasis and spongiotic features in eczema. Demonstrates how vascular patterns differentiate inflammatory subtypes.

Lesson 2 • Fungal and Viral Skin Infections

Identifies dermoscopic signs of tinea, molluscum contagiosum, and warts for rapid clinical diagnosis. Reduces reliance on culture and histology for common infections.

Lesson 3 • Hair and Scalp Dermoscopy

Applies trichoscopy to diagnose alopecia subtypes, scalp inflammation, and hair shaft disorders. Provides objective criteria for monitoring treatment response.

Lesson 4 • Nail Dermoscopy Basics

Introduces onychoscopy for nail plate, bed, and matrix assessment in inflammatory and infectious conditions. Connects nail findings to systemic and local diagnoses.

Lesson 1 • Short-Term Digital Monitoring

Applies three-month follow-up intervals for equivocal lesions to detect early structural change. Defines criteria for upgrading to excision vs. continued monitoring.

Lesson 2 • Total Body Photography Integration

Combines total body photography with dermoscopy for comprehensive baseline documentation. Enables detection of new lesions and change in existing ones over time.

Lesson 3 • Dermoscopy Software Platforms

Evaluates image management, comparison tools, and reporting features of leading software platforms. Guides selection and implementation in clinical practice.

Lesson 4 • Quality Assurance in Digital Monitoring

Establishes protocols for image quality review, calibration checks, and audit of monitoring outcomes. Ensures diagnostic reliability across operators and time points.

Lesson 1 • Collision Tumors and Overlapping Patterns

Identifies two or more distinct lesion patterns coexisting within a single lesion boundary. Teaches systematic segmentation to avoid diagnostic error in complex cases.

Lesson 2 • Rare Malignant Tumors

Covers dermoscopic features of Merkel cell carcinoma, dermatofibrosarcoma, and cutaneous lymphoma. Expands diagnostic range beyond common malignancies.

Lesson 3 • Pediatric Dermoscopy Considerations

Adapts diagnostic criteria for congenital nevi, Spitz nevi, and pediatric melanoma in children. Addresses age-specific pattern variants that differ from adult norms.

Lesson 4 • Dermoscopy in Skin of Color

Adjusts pattern interpretation for increased baseline pigmentation in darker phototypes. Prevents both over-diagnosis and under-diagnosis in patients with skin of color.