2. Objective
Differentiation between moles and
melanoma
Early detection of melanoma
New device in the early detection of
melanoma - MoleMax™
What you can do to reduce your risk
3. The Problem
Worldwide, many people are scared
because of the dramatic increase of
melanoma of the skin
The sun’s UV rays and our behavior in the
sun are responsible for more than 90% of
all skin cancers
Melanoma can be cured, when detected
early and treated promptly
4. What Are Moles or Nevi?
Most people have a number of small
colored spots on their skin. These lesions
are called moles, birthmarks, freckles or
nevi
Nevi may be present at birth or are
acquired during lifetime
It is important to differ common moles
from melanoma
5. What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer
41.600 cases of cutaneous melanoma have
been diagnosed in 1998 in the U.S. alone
Melanoma accounted for about 7.300
deaths in 1999 in the U.S.
Melanoma is completely curable when it
is detected early and treated promptly
6. Cancer Cases U.S. 1995
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
Cancer, U.S. 1995
Prostate Breast Lung Col/Rect Lymphoma
Bladder Melanoma Uterine Renal Oral
Ovary Leukemia Stomach Brain Cervix
Source:National Cancer Registry
Melanoma
7. The Risk for Developing Melanoma
In the 1930’s, the lifetime risk for melanoma was 1:1500
By the year 2000, the lifetime risk was already 1:75
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1111
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9999
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9999
9999
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1111
9999
9999
6666
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0000
0000
0000
1/1500
1/75
Rigel et al. JAAD 34:5, 841
8. Who Is at Risk for Melanoma?
People with…
A history of melanoma among first degree
relatives
Many moles and/or atypical moles
Large nevi, present since birth
Sun induced freckling and/or a history of
many sunburns
Red or blond hair and green or blue eyes
Any new mole or changing moles
9. How Is Melanoma Detected Early?
Regular total skin examination by your doctor
Patient´s self-screening
A novel, computerized technique, MoleMax™, is
used
The MoleMax™ procedure is absolutely harmless
MoleMax™ allows doctors to look beneath the surface
of the skin
MoleMax™ improves the diagnostic precision for the
early detection of melanoma
10. What Is MoleMax™?
A novel computer aided imaging
technique provided by your doctor
Facilitates the diagnosis of common moles
and early melanoma
Uses the principle of digital
epiluminescence microscopy (DELM)
Allows doctors to track and detect even
subtle changes of moles over time
11. How Does DELM Work?
Skin Tumor
Digital ELM image
Digital Microscope
Polarized Light
Computer
12. Benign Mole
The mole is almost
symmetrical
Light and dark brown
are dominating colors
Margin is regularly
defined
No suspicious internal
structures are
present
13. Benign Mole, First Examination
The mole is
symmetrical
The outline is
irregular
No suspicious internal
structures are
present
14. A Changing Mole, Follow up
First Exam 6 Months later
Detection of a growing lesion
Objective Comparison
15. Atypical Mole
The mole is
asymmetrical
Different shades of
brown in haphazard
distribution
The margin is rugged
Typical internal
structures are
present
16. Early Melanoma
The lesion is not
substantially larger in
size
The margin ends
abruptly
Dark brown and blue-
black are dominating
colors
Typical internal
structures are
identified
17. Early Melanoma
The patient recognized
changes in a preexisting
mole
Using MoleMax™
characteristic features
are visualized
18. Treatment of Suspicious Moles
Your doctor may decide to biopsy or
surgically remove a suspicious looking
mole for your safety
The biopsy is examined through the
microscope, a procedure called
histopathology
The result from histopathology informs
your doctor whether the mole was benign
or melanoma
19. Treatment of Early Melanoma
Complete surgical removal is the
treatment of choice for early melanoma
In most cases, the surgical procedure is
relatively small
Most likely, even when early melanoma
has been verified, no additional
treatment, except for surgery will be
necessary
20. Summary
Melanoma is a serious health problem
Early melanoma is completely curable
when diagnosed and treated early
MoleMax™ is used as an additional tool for
the early detection of melanoma
MoleMax™ improves the diagnostic
accuracy for your safety
