The ability to detect early melanoma remains of paramount importance in our efforts to curtail deaths related to this malignancy. Fortunately, our clinical skills at recognizing the varied clinical presentation of early melanomas are continuously improving. Our enhanced clinical acumen together with improved awareness of the danger signs of melanoma has resulted in a greater proportion of thin melanomas being diagnosed today as compared to the past. The implementation and utilization of in vivo imaging technologies in clinical practice promises to further enhance our ability to detect melanoma while this cancer is still thin and easily curable. This article describes the utility and application of the in vivo imaging technologies that are currently in clinical use today including dermoscopy, total body photography, individual lesion photography, and reflectance confocal microscopy.

The ability to detect early melanoma remains of paramount importance in our efforts to
curtail deaths related to this malignancy. Fortunately, our clinical skills at recognizing the
varied clinical presentation of early melanomas are continuously improving. Our enhanced
clinical acumen together with improved awareness of the danger signs of melanoma has
resulted in a greater proportion of thin melanomas being diagnosed today as compared to
the past. The implementation and utilization of in vivo imaging technologies in clinical
practice promises to further enhance our ability to detect melanoma while this cancer is
still thin and easily curable. This article describes the utility and application of the in vivo
imaging technologies that are currently in clinical use today including dermoscopy, total
body photography, individual lesion photography, and reflectance confocal microscopy.
Semin Cutan Med Surg 27:2-10 © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS melanoma, dermoscopy, total body photography, confocal, short term