Assessment of Clinical Images, Digital Dermoscopy and Confocal Microscopy for Melanoma Screening

This study focuses on finding better ways to screen and diagnose melanoma, a type of skin cancer. It aims to evaluate the usefulness of different imaging techniques such as clinical images, digital dermoscopy images, and in-vivo confocal microscopy for teledermatology, a method of remote healthcare. The study involves individuals with suspicious moles. The goal is to improve the current triage system by incorporating these imaging technologies, which could potentially enhance patient care and address the challenges of melanoma detection. Participants in this study will have their suspicious moles imaged using a smartphone application, digital dermoscopy, and confocal microscopy. After the imaging, they will receive a local anesthetic called lidocaine and undergo a shave or punch biopsy of the suspected melanomas. The results of these imaging techniques will be compared to the biopsy results to determine their accuracy. Participants will be followed up within a week after the study intervention. The study measures the sensitivity and specificity of these imaging modalities, which means how well they can correctly identify melanomas and non-melanomas. The collected data will be analyzed to generate hypotheses for future studies.