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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
accuracy in dx
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
accuracy in dx
by howard123, Sep 22, 2009 11:47AM
I was just at my dermatologist for a skin screening. She decided to take a mole off of my back that was flat brown, ordinary looking except it had a slight "shine" to it. She said it was either nothing or a pigmented basal cell so she would remove it. I have had basal cell one other time removed but it was a peary bump kind. I have read that sometimes melanoma and pigmented bcc can be confused. I am not so worried about the pigmented bcc although I would much prefer it be nothing. I am just concerned about whether an experienced dermatologist can be certain using magnification telling the bcc from something worse. worried again! I asked her again when I was leaving if she said pigmented bcc or nothing and she said..."exactly". Can an experienced dermatologist tell with visual inspection?
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Sep 22, 2009 01:28PM
, Sep 22, 2009 01:28PMTo: howard123
No, not for certain. That's why your dermatologist wants to do a biopsy. This is appropriate, and the only way to be sure. If it's a basal cell, it will need to be treated anyway, but if it's an atypical mole (or a melanoma), it will need to be treated differently. That's the reason for doing the biopsy.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
