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Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association is published by MDPI from Volume 116 Issue 1 (2026). Previous articles were published by another publisher in Open Access under a CC-BY (or CC-BY-NC-ND) licence, and they are hosted by MDPI on mdpi.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with American Podiatric Medical Association.
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Review

The Advantages of Dermoscopy in the Diagnosis of Acral Melanoma from Other Podiatric Lesions. A Literature Review

by
Mansi Patel
,
HyunJi Boo
,
Suganthi Kandasamy
,
Dhagash Patel
and
Anthony Iorio
1
Podiatry Student, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA
2
Community Health and Medicine New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA
J. Am. Podiatr. Med. Assoc. 2016, 106(sp1), 3; https://doi.org/10.7547/8750-7315-2016.1.iorio
Published: 1 January 2016
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Versions Notes
Introduction
  • Melanoma is one of the most common primary malignant tumors arising in the lower extremity. [1]
  • It is crucial to diagnose melanoma as quickly and as efficiently as possiblefor a better prognosis.[2]
  • The use of dermoscopy is helpful in diagnosing such conditions. Dermoscopy is a non-invasive, in-vivo technique primarily used in the examination of pigmented skin lesions. This procedure allows the visualization of subsurface skin structures in the epidermis, dermoepidermal junction, and upper dermis – structures not visible to the naked eye.
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Image 1. Non-polarized contact dermatoscopes [3].
Image 1. Non-polarized contact dermatoscopes [3].
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Image 2. Assortment of Polarized and Hybrid Dermatoscopes [3].
Image 2. Assortment of Polarized and Hybrid Dermatoscopes [3].
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Image 3. Anatomical structure of acral skin [4].
Image 3. Anatomical structure of acral skin [4].
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Image 4. Acral nevus and melanoma [5].
Image 4. Acral nevus and melanoma [5].
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Objectives

  • This poster reviews the literature and describes the advantages of dermoscopy in the field of podiatry by assessing all the dermoscopic criteria that ensure a positive predictive value of diagnosing an acral melanoma from an acral nevus.
  • Additionally, it analyzes cases of misdiagnosis of a plantar-pigmented wart and a diabetic ulcer from a melanoma.

Methods

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Results

Table 1. Sensitivity in the recognition of skin cancer with the use of a dermatoscope [5].
Table 1. Sensitivity in the recognition of skin cancer with the use of a dermatoscope [5].
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Table 2. Relationship between benign patterns and melanoma status [6].
Table 2. Relationship between benign patterns and melanoma status [6].
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Table 3. Relationship between malignant patterns and melanoma status [6].
Table 3. Relationship between malignant patterns and melanoma status [6].
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Image 5. Dermoscopic patterns of advanced acral melanoma: irregular diffuse pigmentation [5], PRP [1].
Image 5. Dermoscopic patterns of advanced acral melanoma: irregular diffuse pigmentation [5], PRP [1].
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Image 6. Dermoscopic examination of a) hyperkeratotic lesion b) surrounding macules [7].
Image 6. Dermoscopic examination of a) hyperkeratotic lesion b) surrounding macules [7].
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Image 7. Clinical presentation pre-amputation [2] and dermoscopic features of satellite lesions [2].
Image 7. Clinical presentation pre-amputation [2] and dermoscopic features of satellite lesions [2].
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Image 8. Hyperkeratotic patch [8] and PRP with abrupt cutoff of pigmentation [8].
Image 8. Hyperkeratotic patch [8] and PRP with abrupt cutoff of pigmentation [8].
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Image 9. Dermoscopic patterns of acral nevus: PFP, lattice-like, fibrillar [1,5].
Image 9. Dermoscopic patterns of acral nevus: PFP, lattice-like, fibrillar [1,5].
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Discussion

  • The use of dermoscopy is slowly evolving in podiatry. Dermoscopy is a less invasive yet efficient method that can minimize the patient’s exposure to anesthesia and prevent the formation of a biopsy induced ulcer in diabetic patients.
  • While controversy remains over sensitivity and specificity of using a dermatoscope alone to diagnose pedal lesions, particular attention should be paid to the accuracy of diagnosing a lesion when dermoscopy is used in conjunction with a biopsy.
  • From the literature we can conclude that dermoscopy can improve the clinician’s ability to make the correct diagnosis of an unknown podiatric lesion.
  • With further research of dermoscopic patterns and improved physician training, dermoscopy has the potential to become the primary diagnostic tool for the evaluation of dermatological lesions.

Acknowledgments

The contributors of this poster thank New York College of Podiatric Medicine, Dr. Anthony Iorio, and the authors of the papers reviewed.

References

  1. Saida, T.; Koga, H.; Uhara, H. Key points in dermoscopic differentiation between early acral melanoma and acral nevus. The Journal of Dermatology 2011, 25–34. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  2. Mansur, A.T.; Dermirici, G.T.; Ozel, O.; Ozker, E.; Yildiz, S. Acral melanoma with satellitosis, disguised as a longstanding diabetic ulcer: a great mimicry. Int Wound J 2015. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  3. Usatine, R.P.; Smith, M.A.; Mayeaux, E.J.; Chumley, H.S. The Color Atlas of Family Medicine, Second Edition. Available online: www.accessmedicine.com.
  4. Jin, L.; Arai, E.; Anzai, S.; Kimura, T.; Tsuchida, T.; Nagata, K.; Shimizu, M. Reassessment of histopathology and dermoscopy findings in 145 Japanese cases of melanocytic nevus of the sole: Toward a pathological diagnosis of early-stage malignant melanoma in situ. Pathology International 2010, 65–70. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Bristow, I.; Bowling, J. Dermoscopy as a technique for the early identification of foot melanoma. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research J Foot Ankle Res. 2009, 14–14. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  6. Braun, R. Dermoscopy of Acral Melanoma: A Multicenter Study on Behalf of the International Dermoscopy Society. Dermatology 2013, 227(4). [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  7. Ise, M.; Yasua, F.; Konohana, I.; Miura, K.; Tanaka, M. Acral melanoma with hyperkeratosis mimicking a pigmented wart. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2012, 3(1), 10. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  8. Oh, T.S.; Bae, E.U.; Ro, K.W.; Seo, S.H.; Son, S.W.; Kim, I.H. Acral lentiginous melanoma developing during long-standing atypical melanosis: usefulness of dermoscopy for detection of early acral melanoma. Ann Dermatol. 2011, 23(3), 400–404. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Patel, M.; Boo, H.; Kandasamy, S.; Patel, D.; Iorio, A. The Advantages of Dermoscopy in the Diagnosis of Acral Melanoma from Other Podiatric Lesions. A Literature Review. J. Am. Podiatr. Med. Assoc. 2016, 106, 3. https://doi.org/10.7547/8750-7315-2016.1.iorio

AMA Style

Patel M, Boo H, Kandasamy S, Patel D, Iorio A. The Advantages of Dermoscopy in the Diagnosis of Acral Melanoma from Other Podiatric Lesions. A Literature Review. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. 2016; 106(sp1):3. https://doi.org/10.7547/8750-7315-2016.1.iorio

Chicago/Turabian Style

Patel, Mansi, HyunJi Boo, Suganthi Kandasamy, Dhagash Patel, and Anthony Iorio. 2016. "The Advantages of Dermoscopy in the Diagnosis of Acral Melanoma from Other Podiatric Lesions. A Literature Review" Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 106, no. sp1: 3. https://doi.org/10.7547/8750-7315-2016.1.iorio

APA Style

Patel, M., Boo, H., Kandasamy, S., Patel, D., & Iorio, A. (2016). The Advantages of Dermoscopy in the Diagnosis of Acral Melanoma from Other Podiatric Lesions. A Literature Review. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 106(sp1), 3. https://doi.org/10.7547/8750-7315-2016.1.iorio

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