An intuitive explanation of dermoscopic structures by digitally reconstructed pathological horizontal top-down view images

Abstract

Dermoscopy is a convenient tool to diagnose melanocytic lesions, especially nevus and melanoma. Various pigmented structures, including pigment network, dots and globules, and streaks, are observed in dermoscopy. Usually, 2D vertical images are used to explain the correlation of dermoscopy and histopathology. However, because the image of dermoscopy is horizontal, it is difficult for the horizontal view of dermoscopy to refer to the vertical view of histopathology. In our study, we digitally reconstructed 2D horizontal top-down view images and 3D aerial images from 50–100 serial 2D vertical sections by using high-speed scanner and 3D software in 6 cases of melanocytic lesion. Our new technology intuitively explained the histopathological structures corresponding to the dermoscopic structures. This technique could be used as a good educational tool for beginners.