Dermoscopy of pigmented skin lesions

This paper describes the basic concepts of dermoscopy, the various dermosco pic equipments and the standard criteria for diagnosing pigmented skin lesi ons. In assessing dermoscopic images, both global and local features can be recognized. These features will be systematically described and illustrate d in Part I of this article. First, we will focus on 8 morphologically rath er distinctive global features that allow a quick, preliminary categorizati on of a given pigmented skin lesion. Second, we will describe various local features representing the letters of the dermoscopic alphabet. The local f eatures permit a more detailed assessment of pigmented skin lesions.