Rainer Hofmann‐Wellenhof

BACKGROUND: Preliminary studies have described morphological features of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) imaged by high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT) and suggested that this technique may aid in its diagnosis and management. However, systematic studies evaluating the accuracy of HD-OCT for the diagnosis of BCC are lacking.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify three-dimensional (3-D) HD-OCT features able i) to distinguish BCC from clinical BCC imitators and ii) ...

BACKGROUND: Preliminary studies described morphological features of actinic keratosis (AK) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) imaged by High-Definition Optical Coherence Tomography (HD-OCT) and suggested that this technique may aid in their diagnosis. However, systematic studies evaluating the accuracy of HD-OCT for the diagnosis of AK and SCC are lacking so far.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we sought to design an algorithm for AK classification that could (i) distinguish SCC from AK and ...

Exposing human skin to ultraviolet radiation causes DNA damage, sunburn, immune alterations, and eventually, skin cancer. We wished to determine whether liposomes containing a DNA repair enzyme could prevent any of the acute effects of irradiation when applied after ultraviolet exposure. Fifteen human patients with a prior history of skin cancer were exposed to two minimal erythema doses of ultraviolet radiation on their buttock skin. Liposomes containing T4 endonuclease V or ...

Importance: Deep learning convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have shown a performance at the level of dermatologists in the diagnosis of melanoma. Accordingly, further exploring the potential limitations of CNN technology before broadly applying it is of special interest.

Objective: To investigate the association between gentian violet surgical skin markings in dermoscopic images and the diagnostic performance of a CNN approved for use as a medical device in the European market.

Design ...

BACKGROUND: There is a need for better standardization of the dermoscopic terminology in assessing pigmented skin lesions.

OBJECTIVE: The virtual Consensus Net Meeting on Dermoscopy was organized to investigate reproducibility and validity of the various features and diagnostic algorithms.

METHODS: Dermoscopic images of 108 lesions were evaluated via the Internet by 40 experienced dermoscopists using a 2-step diagnostic procedure. The first-step algorithm distinguished melanocytic versus ...

BACKGROUND: Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) efficiently differentiate skin lesions by image analysis. Studies comparing a market-approved CNN in a broad range of diagnoses to dermatologists working under less artificial conditions are lacking.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred cases of pigmented/non-pigmented skin cancers and benign lesions were used for a two-level reader study in 96 dermatologists (level I: dermoscopy only; level II: clinical close-up images, dermoscopy, and ...

BACKGROUND: Several dermoscopic and in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) diagnostic criteria of lentigo maligna (LM)/lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) have been identified. However, no study compared the diagnostic accuracy of these techniques.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy and RCM for LM/LMM using a holistic assessment of the images.

METHODS: A total of 223 facial lesions were evaluated by 21 experts. Diagnostic accuracy of the clinical, dermoscopic ...

BACKGROUND: Benign melanocytic skin lesions may be difficult to differentiate from melanoma both clinically and dermoscopically. One of the most confounding dermoscopic features, commonly seen in melanoma but in our experience also in melanocytic naevi, is represented by the so-called blue-white structures (BWS).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate diagnostic significance and histopathological correlates of BWS seen by dermoscopy in a series of clinically equivocal melanocytic skin lesions that were ...

BACKGROUND: Based on the dermoscopic classification of acquired melanocytic naevi, six different dermoscopic types can be distinguished by morphology (globular, globular-reticular, globular-homogeneous, reticular, reticular-homogeneous, homogeneous) and by pigment distribution (uniform, central hyperpigmentation, central hypopigmentation, peripheral hyperpigmentation, peripheral hypopigmentation, multifocal hyper/hypopigmentation). It has been suggested that most individuals harbour one ...

IMPORTANCE: The comparative diagnostic performance of dermoscopic algorithms and their individual criteria are not well studied.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the discriminatory power and reliability of dermoscopic criteria used in melanoma detection and compare the diagnostic accuracy of existing algorithms.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a retrospective, observational study of 477 lesions (119 melanomas [24.9%] and 358 nevi [75.1%]), which were divided into 12 image sets that ...

BACKGROUND: Superficial BCCs (sBCCs) usually appear as multiple lesions in chronic sun-damaged skin of elderly people and may show a destructive growth if left untreated. Non-invasive treatment modalities, such as cryotherapy have been employed for sBCCs, all failing to provide tissue for confirming diagnosis and assessing adequacy of tumour removal. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), a new non-invasive imaging technique has proven to be a useful tool for detection of basal cell ...

BACKGROUND: Skin self-examinations supplemented with mobile teledermoscopy might improve early detection of skin cancers compared with naked-eye skin self-examinations. We aimed to assess whether mobile teledermoscopy-enhanced skin self-examination can improve sensitivity and specificity of self-detection of skin cancers when compared with naked-eye skin self-examination.

METHODS: This randomised, controlled trial was done in Brisbane (QLD, Australia). Eligible participants (aged ≥18 ...

BACKGROUND: Even though progress has been made, the detection of melanoma still poses a challenge. In light of this situation, the Nevisense electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) system (SciBase AB, Stockholm, Sweden) was designed and shown to have the potential to be used as an adjunct diagnostic tool for melanoma detection.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of the Nevisense system in the distinction of benign lesions of the skin from melanoma with electrical ...

BACKGROUND: The dermoscopic classification is a useful tool for handling patients with atypical naevi (Clark naevi).

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if the dermoscopic classification of atypical naevi is of any value to discriminate benign from malignant melanocytic lesions.

METHODS: Consecutive patients (n = 205) were included with 254 suspicious melanocytic lesions, confirmed by histopathology at the Pigmented Lesions Clinic of the Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, ...