STATISTICAL EVALUATION OF EPILUMINESCENCE MICROSCOPY CRITERIA FOR MELANOCYTIC PIGMENTED SKIN-LESIONS

Background. Epiluminescence microscopy (ELM) is a noninvasive techniqu e by which the clinical diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions (PSL) can be improved. Many ELM criteria have been described, but their signific ance in the differential diagnosis of PSL has not yet been established . Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the value of E LM criteria in the differential diagnosis of PSL. Methods. Two hundred one melanocytic PSL (61 common nevi, 60 dysplastic nevi, and 80 melan omas) were investigated with ELM for the presence of certain ELM crite ria; their significance was determined by calculating the odds ratios. Results. Individual ELM criteria have different weights of significan ce in the differential diagnosis of melanocytic PSL. Selected patterns of ELM criteria adjusted to the distinct types of PSL considerably im prove the diagnostic accuracy of melanocytic PSL. Conclusion: The prev alence of certain distinct ELM criteria in a given melanocytic PSL has statistical value in differential diagnosis.