Background: Increasing evidence supports the diagnostic accuracy of epiluminescence microscopy in non-invasive diagnosis of mucosal pigmented lesions. The need to maintain the instrument uncontaminated, in order to avoid transmission of infectious agents, is a requirement of primary importance in routine dermoscopic examination of mucosal sites. Observations: In order to evaluate if a disposable protective material may be used to cover the dermoscopic probe without altering the visual aspect of the pigmented lesions, a PVC film usually employed in packaging foodstuffs was tested. Videodermoscopic examination of a series of 25 melanocytic cutaneous lesions was first performed by means of a digital surface microscopy video instrument according to the standard dermoscopic procedure (glass plate/ mineral oil/ skin). Then PVC film was placed between the glass plate of the dermoscopic instrument and the mineral oil used as linkage fluid (glass plate/ PVC film/ mineral oil/ skin). A third time, the mineral oil was placed both between the glass plate and the PVC film and between the PVC film and the skin surface (glass plate/ mineral oil/ PVC film/ mineral oil/ skin). The three different procedures were compared on the basis of color perception using CIELAB color space system parameters. Furthermore, the PVC film was analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the superficial structure of the material. Conclusions: The interposition of the mineral oil on both sides of the PVC film allows an unmodified view of the pigmented lesions in comparison with the standard procedure. These findings, together with the absence of porosity shown by the scanning electron microscopy, supports the employment of PVC film as an adequate disposable barrier in routine dermoscopic observations of mucosal sites.
A preliminary evaluation of polyvinyl chloride film use in dermoscopic analysis of mucosal areas
ZAMPINO, Maria Rosaria;BORGHI, Alessandro;CORAZZA, Monica;VIRGILI, Anna
2005
Abstract
Background: Increasing evidence supports the diagnostic accuracy of epiluminescence microscopy in non-invasive diagnosis of mucosal pigmented lesions. The need to maintain the instrument uncontaminated, in order to avoid transmission of infectious agents, is a requirement of primary importance in routine dermoscopic examination of mucosal sites. Observations: In order to evaluate if a disposable protective material may be used to cover the dermoscopic probe without altering the visual aspect of the pigmented lesions, a PVC film usually employed in packaging foodstuffs was tested. Videodermoscopic examination of a series of 25 melanocytic cutaneous lesions was first performed by means of a digital surface microscopy video instrument according to the standard dermoscopic procedure (glass plate/ mineral oil/ skin). Then PVC film was placed between the glass plate of the dermoscopic instrument and the mineral oil used as linkage fluid (glass plate/ PVC film/ mineral oil/ skin). A third time, the mineral oil was placed both between the glass plate and the PVC film and between the PVC film and the skin surface (glass plate/ mineral oil/ PVC film/ mineral oil/ skin). The three different procedures were compared on the basis of color perception using CIELAB color space system parameters. Furthermore, the PVC film was analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the superficial structure of the material. Conclusions: The interposition of the mineral oil on both sides of the PVC film allows an unmodified view of the pigmented lesions in comparison with the standard procedure. These findings, together with the absence of porosity shown by the scanning electron microscopy, supports the employment of PVC film as an adequate disposable barrier in routine dermoscopic observations of mucosal sites.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
