What is the Whole Body Mapping Method?
Skin is the most important layer that protects the human body. For this reason, it is very important to closely monitor the formations such as moles, spots, lesions and blisters on the skin in order to diagnose skin diseases such as cancer at an early stage. Skin cancer often manifests itself with some changes in the skin. Starting treatment for skin cancer at an early stage greatly increases the chance of success. For this reason, it is very important to have routine tests such as mole screening regularly, especially for those with fair skin, those with a high number of moles on their bodies, or those with a family history of cancer, in order to diagnose skin cancer at an early stage. You can find detailed information about mole scanning and whole body mole mapping method in the rest of the article.
What is the Whole Body Mapping Method?
Nevus, as they are called in medical language, are generally benign formations that can be seen in many people. The number of moles found in people is generally related to genetic factors. Additionally, people who are exposed to excessive ultraviolet rays may also experience an increase in the number of moles. Moles on the skin are formations resulting from the pigments that give the skin its color. Although the majority of moles are benign formations, in people with a high number of moles or irregular shapes of moles on their body, dangerous moles may cause mole cancer, called melanoma, in the future. Moles called dysplastic nevus, which have a different appearance than normal moles, have different colors and shapes. In addition, these formations are larger than other moles: These moles are mostly benign, but in some cases they may change. People with a high number of dysplastic nevi in their body are considered to be in the risk group for skin cancer. Melanoma, a type of skin cancer, is a treatable disease when diagnosed at an early stage. For this reason, it is very important to perform regular mole examination in high-risk people. Today, thanks to the developments in technology, cancer-risk moles can be easily detected thanks to the total body mapping method.
Skin cancer, also known in medical terms as malignant melanoma, is a type of cancer that is common all over the world and can progress rapidly. In malignant melanoma patients, cancer may arise from normal skin tissue or may occur as a result of a change in a mole previously found on the person’s body. For this reason, expert dermatologists recommend that people with genetic predisposition, fair skin, colored eyes and many moles on their body have regular mole examination. Because in cases where skin cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment is largely successful. Thanks to the developments in medicine and technology, even moles that are too small to be seen with the naked eye can now be examined using the whole body mapping method.
Which Diseases is Used in the Diagnosis of Whole Body Mapping?
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer all over the world. Melanoma cancer, a type of skin cancer, is a type of cancer that can cause fatal consequences if not diagnosed at an early stage. Melanoma is a type of cancer that arises from tumors in the skin. Dangerous moles have irregular borders and shapes, and their colors are different. Although skin tags are considered risky mole groups among the public , cancerous skin tags are not usually seen. The whole body mapping process provides great convenience in detecting and tracking very small mole formations. In the follow-up of patients previously diagnosed with skin cancer, the whole body mapping method is used in people with a high number of dysplastic nevus in their body. Detecting melanoma mole formations on the body and scanning with the whole body mapping method has an important place in the diagnosis of many skin diseases, especially skin cancer. In addition, not only moles but all kinds of formations on the skin can be monitored with the whole body mapping method.
What are the Features of the Whole Body Mapping Method?
In the whole body mapping method, photographs of every part of the body are first taken using a computerized system. Then, with the help of a special tool called a videodermatoscope, the image of the moles on the body is enlarged and projected on the computer screen, and the danger levels are determined by numbers. This numbering process allows dermatologists to easily track moles. After this process, the photos taken at the beginning are matched with the photos taken with the dermatoscope to create a mole map of the people. During this process, all moles on the body are examined one by one and recorded in the archive. During subsequent examinations, moles are photographed again with the help of a dermatoscope and compared with the results obtained from the previous procedure. Thanks to the dermatoscope, even formations on the skin that are too small to be seen with the naked eye can be easily examined.
During the procedure, if dermatologists deem it necessary, dangerous moles that need to be removed surgically can be detected and removed. Moles on the body can be tracked by various methods. Compared to other methods, the whole body mapping method provides a great advantage in diagnosing skin cancer at an early stage. Thanks to the dermatoscope device used in the total body mapping process, all kinds of formations and changes in the skin are visualized microscopically. During the imaging process, the patient’s entire body is photographed in a very short time.
How to Track Moles?
Mole follow-up is very important in terms of early detection of moles that are at risk of cancer. Since moles are very common lesions, patients must first be conscious enough about tracking moles. First of all, people should see a specialist dermatologist without delay if there are any changes in the moles they have or in the moles that have formed subsequently. First of all, people should pay attention to the changes in moles, known in medical terms as the ABCDE rule. These changes that may occur in moles can be listed as follows:
- Asymmetry (A): One part of the mole on the person’s body looks different from the other part in terms of color, shape and size,
- Border (B): The borders of the mole are irregular and there are indentations and protrusions on the borders,
- Color (C): Changes in the color of a mole on the body, such as darkening, or the presence of more than one color on the mole at the same time,
- Diameter (D): The size of the mole is also important in terms of its risk of cancer. Mole diameter is more than 5 mm,
- Change-Evolution (E): It is important for people to consult a healthcare institution and have a mole examination, as cancerous mole formation may occur in cases of sudden growth, swelling, itching and bleeding in a mole.
Mole follow-up is a process that requires the patient and specialist dermatologists to act together. Dermatologists who are experts in their field use a dermatoscope, which resembles a kind of microscope. I follow up. In the follow-up of moles, visual examination, examination with hand dermatoscopy and examination with digital dermatoscopy are essential. Dermatoscopy allows the mole to be seen in better size and more clearly by dropping a special solution on the person’s mole area. In cases where the person has a high number of moles, mole scanning is performed with the whole body mapping method. Thanks to this method, the part of the person where the mole is located and the structural characteristics of the mole are determined. The procedure is repeated at intervals such as 6 months or 1 year, so it can be easily determined whether there are new moles or any changes in existing moles. Thanks to the data obtained during this procedure, moles that need to be surgically removed can be easily detected. Thus, unnecessary mole removal is prevented.
Malignant melanoma is a type of cancer that can have a rapid and fatal course because it does not show symptoms in the early stages. However, early skin cancer diagnosis methods are very important in skin cancer, as in many other diseases. You can also contact the nearest health institution to get detailed information about mole screening. We wish you healthy days.
