Presence and Future of Dermoscopy

The document from 2006 highlights the importance of dermoscopy, a noninvasive technique for skin imaging, in diagnosing skin cancer and other skin conditions. It notes the historical development of dermoscopy and the creation of algorithms like the three-point checklist, the ABCD algorithm, and the seven-point checklist, which have increased the correct diagnosis rate of malignant melanoma by 10-30%. The term 'trichoscopy' is introduced for the examination of hair and scalp, aiding in distinguishing between alopecia areata and androgenic alopecia. Dermoscopy's utility extends to nail diseases, oral mucous membrane lesions, and inflammatory skin diseases, and is also used in cosmetology and research. The document emphasizes a shift in dermatology practice towards clinicoimaging diagnosis, with the expectation that dermoscopy will become a standard tool for all dermatologists, indicating a move away from purely clinicopathologic diagnosis.